Full disk encryption (FDE) is a technical control that encrypts all the data on a disk drive, including the operating system and applications. FDE prevents unauthorized access to the data if the disk drive is lost or stolen, as it requires a password or key to decrypt the data. FDE can be implemented using software or hardware solutions and can protect data at rest on laptops and other devices. The other options are not technical controls or do not reduce the risk of data loss if a laptop is lost or stolen. Reference: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 10; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview

The most secure states for the certificate authority server when it is not in use are powered off and air gapped. Powering off the server will prevent any unauthorized access or tampering with the server while it is idle. Air gapping the server will isolate it from any network connections, making it inaccessible to remote attackers or malware. These measures will help to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the certificate authority server and its keys.

A custom script is a piece of code that can be written to perform a specific task or automate a process. A custom script can be used to gather patch information on a specific server by querying the server's operating system, registry, or patch management software and retrieving the relevant data. A custom script can be more flexible and efficient than other methods, such as Event Viewer, SCAP software, or CI/CD, which may not provide the exact information needed or may require additional steps or tools.

Data execution prevention (DEP) is a security feature that prevents code from being executed in memory regions that are marked as data-only. This helps mitigate buffer overflow attacks, which are a type of attack where a program overwrites data to a buffer beyond its allocated size, potentially allowing malicious code to be executed. DEP can be implemented at the hardware or software level and can prevent unauthorized code execution in memory buffers. Reference: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 10; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/memory/data-execution-prevention

Third-party assessment. A third-party assessment is a process that explores the risk posed to your organization by third-party vendors along the supply chain. This process evaluates the likelihood that your business is exposed to different third-party risks such as compliance risk, operational risk, financial risk, security risk and cybersecurity risk1.
A third-party assessment can help the CSO gain a better understanding of the prospective company's cybersecurity posture by:
Providing an independent and objective evaluation of the vendor's security policies, controls, and practices.
Identifying any gaps or weaknesses in the vendor's security posture that could compromise your organization's data, systems, or reputation.
Recommending actions or improvements to mitigate or reduce the identified risks and enhance the vendor's security performance.
A third-party assessment can also help the CSO identify risks in the supply chain by:
Mapping and tracing the data flow and dependencies among the vendor and its subcontractors or suppliers.
Assessing how the vendor and its subcontractors or suppliers safeguard data and comply with relevant regulations and standards.
Detecting any signs of malicious or negligent behavior by the vendor or its subcontractors or suppliers that could harm your organization or its customers.