Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts the victim's data and demands a ransom for its decryption1. Ransomware attacks can cause significant damage to an organization's operations, reputation, and finances1. Therefore, it is important to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks by implementing effective prevention and recovery strategies.
One of the best ways to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks is to back up data frequently12345. Data backups are copies of the organization's data that are stored in a separate location or medium, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or tape2. Data backups can help the organization restore its data in case of a ransomware attack, without paying the ransom or losing valuable information2. Data backups should be performed regularly, preferably daily or weekly, depending on the criticality and volume of the data2. Data backups should also be tested periodically to ensure their integrity and usability2.
The other options are not as effective as backing up data frequently in mitigating the impact of ransomware attacks. Invoking the disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a reactive measure that can help the organization resume its operations after a ransomware attack, but it does not prevent or reduce the damage caused by the attack3.
Paying the ransom is not a recommended option, as it does not guarantee the decryption of the data or the deletion of the stolen data by the attackers. Paying the ransom also encourages further attacks and funds criminal activities14. Requiring password changes for administrative accounts is a good security practice, but it is not sufficient to prevent or recover from ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks can exploit other vulnerabilities, such as phishing emails, outdated software, or weak network security15.
References: 1: How to Mitigate the Risk of Ransomware Attacks: The Definitive Guide 2: Mitigating malware and ransomware attacks - The National Cyber Security Centre 3: 3 steps to prevent and recover from ransomware 4: Ransomware Epidemic: Use these 8 Strategies to Mitigate Risk 5: Practical Steps to Mitigate Ransomware Attacks - ITSecurityWire

Validation of rules by the business is the most helpful in establishing a baseline for measuring data quality because it ensures that the rules reflect the business needs and expectations. Validation of rules by the business also helps to identify and resolve any inconsistencies or conflicts among different data sources or stakeholders. Input from customers, industry standard business definitions and built-in data error prevention application controls are useful for improving data quality, but they are not sufficient for establishing a baseline. References: CISA Review Manual (Digital Version) 1, Chapter 5, Section 5.4.1

During a pre-deployment assessment, the best indication that a business case will lead to the achievement of business objectives is that the business case reflects stakeholder requirements. A business case is a document that explains the rationale, benefits, costs, and risks of a proposed project or initiative. A business case should align with the strategic goals and vision of the organization and address the needs and expectations of the stakeholders who are involved in or affected by the project12.
Stakeholder requirements are the conditions or capabilities that stakeholders expect from a project or its outcomes. Stakeholders can include customers, users, employees, managers, suppliers, regulators, and others who have an interest or stake in the project. Stakeholder requirements should be identified, analyzed, prioritized, validated, and documented throughout the project lifecycle34.
The business case should reflect stakeholder requirements because they provide the basis for defining the project scope, objectives, deliverables, quality standards, success criteria, and benefits realization. By reflecting stakeholder requirements, the business case can demonstrate how the project will add value to the organization and its stakeholders, justify the investment and resources required for the project, and facilitate the decision-making and approval process for the project5 .
Therefore, during a pre-deployment assessment, an IS auditor should look for evidence that the business case reflects stakeholder requirements as the best indication that the business case will lead to the achievement of business objectives.
References:
How to Write a Business Case (Template Included) - ProjectManager
How to Write a Business Case | Smartsheet
What are Stakeholder Requirements? | PM Study Circle
Stakeholder Requirements - Project Management Knowledge
Business Case vs Business Requirements - Difference Between
[Business Case Development - Project Management Docs]

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:
Forensic investigations require unaltered digital evidenceto be admissible in court.Write-protection ensures that the original data remains intact.
* Option A (Correct):Write-protecting mediapreventsaccidental or malicious changesto evidence, ensuring its integrity.
* Option B (Incorrect):Creating a digital imageis useful, but if the original evidence is modified, the integrity is lost.
* Option C (Incorrect):Hash valueshelp detect changes but donot preventthem.
* Option D (Incorrect):Chain of custodyensures accountability but doesnot physically protect the evidence.
Reference:ISACA CISA Review Manual -Domain 5: Protection of Information Assets- Covers forensic principles, evidence handling, and data integrity.

Hash totals are a control technique used to ensure data integrity during batch processing. A hash total is a calculated value based on the data in a batch. This value is compared to a pre-calculated hash total to confirm that all data has been processed correctly and without alteration.
References
ISACA CISA Review Manual (27th Edition): Hash totals are discussed within the context of batch processing controls.
Other Auditing Resources: Hash totals are a fundamental control technique discussed in various audit and information security publications.