A data loss prevention (DLP) tool is a software application that detects and prevents data breaches by monitoring and protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access, transfer, or use1. A DLP tool can help your organization comply with regulations, prevent insider threats, and protect your intellectual property.
Before implementing a DLP tool, the most important prerequisite is to identify where existing data resides and establish a data classification matrix. This is because you need to know what data you have, where it is stored, how sensitive it is, and who can access it. A data classification matrix is a framework that defines the categories and levels of data sensitivity, such as public, internal, confidential, or restricted2. By identifying and classifying your data, you can determine the appropriate DLP policies and controls to apply to each type of data and prevent data loss or leakage.

This should be the first thing that an IS auditor considers when evaluating firewall rules, because it defines the objectives, standards, and guidelines for securing the organization's network and information assets. The firewall rules should be aligned with the organization's security policy, and reflect the level of risk and protection required for each type of network traffic, system, or data. The IS auditor should compare the firewall rules with the security policy, and identify any discrepancies, gaps, or conflicts that could compromise the security or performance of the network.
The other options are not as important as the organization's security policy when evaluating firewall rules:
* The number of remote nodes. This is a factor that may affect the complexity and scalability of the firewall rules, but it is not a primary consideration for the IS auditor. Remote nodes are devices or systems that connect to the network from outside locations, such as teleworkers, mobile users, or branch offices. The IS auditor should ensure that the firewall rules provide adequate security and access control for remote nodes, but this depends on the organization's security policy and business needs.
* The firewalls' default settings. These are the predefined configurations that come with the firewall devices or software, and that determine how they handle network traffic by default. The IS auditor should review the firewalls' default settings, and verify that they are appropriate and secure for the organization's network environment. However, the firewalls' default settings may not match the organization's security policy or specific requirements, and may need to be customized or overridden by firewall rules.
* The physical location of the firewalls. This is a factor that may affect the placement and design of the firewall rules, but it is not a critical consideration for the IS auditor. The physical location of the firewalls refers to where they are installed or deployed in relation to the network topology, such as at the network perimeter, between network segments, or on individual hosts. The IS auditor should ensure that the firewall rules are consistent and coordinated across different locations, but this depends on the organization's security policy and network architecture.

The role of a document owner when implementing a data classification policy in an organization is to classify documents to correctly reflect the level of sensitivity of information they contain. A document owner is the person who is ultimately responsible for the creation, maintenance, and protection of a document, usually a member of senior management or a business unit1. A data classification policy is a plan that defines how the organization categorizes its data based on its value, risk, and regulatory requirements, and how it handles and secures each data category2.
According to the data classification policy template by Netwrix3, one of the roles and responsibilities of the document owner is to assign data classification labels based on the data's potential impact level. Data classification labels are tags or markings that indicate the sensitivity level of the data, such as public, internal, confidential, or restricted. The document owner should apply the data classification labels to the documents that contain the data, either manually or automatically, using tools and methods such as metadata, watermarks, headers, footers, or encryption. The document owner should also review and update the data classification labels periodically or whenever there is a change in the data's sensitivity level.
By classifying documents to correctly reflect the level of sensitivity of information they contain, the document owner can help to ensure that the documents are handled in accordance with the data classification policy.
This means that the documents are stored, accessed, shared, transmitted, and disposed of in a secure and appropriate manner, based on the rules and controls defined for each data category. This can also help to prevent data loss, leakage, or breach incidents that may cause harm or damage to the organization or its stakeholders.
Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
References:
Data Classification Policy: Definition, Examples, & Free Template2
Data Classification Policy Template - Netwrix3
Data Classification and Handling Policy - University of Hull1

The best performance indicator for the effectiveness of an incident management program is the incident resolution meantime. This is the average time it takes to resolve an incident from the moment it is reported to the moment it is closed. The incident resolution meantime reflects how quickly and efficiently the incident management team can restore normal service and minimize the impact of incidents on the business operations and customer satisfaction.
The average time between incidents (option A) is not a good performance indicator for the effectiveness of an incident management program, as it does not measure how well the incidents are handled or resolved. It only shows how frequently the incidents occur, which may depend on various factors beyond the control of the incident management team, such as the complexity and reliability of the systems, the security threats and vulnerabilities, and the user behavior and expectations.
The incident alert meantime (option B) is the average time it takes to detect and report an incident. While this is an important metric for measuring the responsiveness and awareness of the incident management team, it does not indicate how effective the incident management program is in resolving the incidents and restoring normal service.
The number of incidents reported (option C) is also not a good performance indicator for the effectiveness of an incident management program, as it does not reflect how well the incidents are handled or resolved. It only shows how many incidents are identified and recorded, which may vary depending on the reporting channels, tools, and procedures used by the incident management team and the users.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
References:
* Incident Management: Processes, Best Practices & Tools - Atlassian
* What is backup and disaster recovery? | IBM