Management support is the factor that has the greatest influence on the successful implementation of information security strategy goals. Management support refers to the commitment and involvement of senior executives and other key stakeholders in defining, approving, funding, and overseeing the information security strategy. Management support is essential for aligning the information security strategy with the business objectives, ensuring adequate resources and budget, fostering a security-aware culture, and enforcing accountability and compliance. According to ISACA, management support is one of the critical success factors for information security governance1. The other options are not factors that influence the successful implementation of information security strategy goals, but rather outcomes or components of the information security strategy. Regulatory requirements are external obligations that the information security strategy must comply with2. Compliance acceptance is the degree to which the organization adheres to the information security policies and standards3. Budgetary approval is the process of allocating financial resources for the information security activities and initiatives4. Reference: 2: Information Security: Goals, Types and Applications - Exabeam 3: How to develop a cybersecurity strategy: Step-by-step guide 4: Information Security Goals And Objectives 1: The Importance of Building an Information Security Strategic Plan

Reviewing the vendor contract should be the information security manager's first course of action when discovering an HVAC vendor has remote access to the stores to enable real-time monitoring and equipment diagnostics. The vendor contract should specify the terms and conditions of the vendor's access to the retailer's network, such as the scope, purpose, duration, frequency, and method of access. The vendor contract should also define the roles and responsibilities of both parties regarding security, privacy, compliance, liability, and incident response. Reviewing the vendor contract will help the information security manager to understand the contractual obligations and expectations of both parties, and to identify any gaps or issues that need to be addressed or resolved1. The other options are not the first course of action for the information security manager when discovering an HVAC vendor has remote access to the stores. Conducting a penetration test of the vendor may be a useful way to assess the vendor's security posture and potential vulnerabilities, but it should be done with the vendor's consent and cooperation, and after reviewing the vendor contract2. Reviewing the vendor's technical security controls may be a necessary step to verify the vendor's compliance with security standards and best practices, but it should be done after reviewing the vendor contract and in accordance with the agreed-upon audit procedures3. Disconnecting the real-time access may be a drastic measure that could disrupt the vendor's service delivery and violate the vendor contract, unless there is a clear and imminent threat or breach that warrants such action. Reference: 1: Vendor Access: Addressing the Security Challenge with Urgency - BeyondTrust 2: Penetration Testing - NIST 3: Reduce Risk from Third Party Access | BeyondTrust : Third-Party Vendor Security Risk Management & Prevention

Chain of custody forms with points of contact are the best way to enable an organization to maintain legally admissible evidence because they document the sequence of control, transfer, and analysis of the evidence, and every person who handled it, the dates and times, and the purpose for each action1. They also ensure the authenticity and integrity of the evidence, and prevent tampering or loss1. Documented processes around forensic records retention are not sufficient to maintain legally admissible evidence because they do not track or verify the handling of the evidence. Robust legal framework with notes of legal actions are not sufficient to maintain legally admissible evidence because they do not record or validate the preservation of the evidence. Forensic personnel training that includes technical actions are not sufficient to maintain legally admissible evidence because they do not account or certify the custody of the evidence. Reference: 1 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326079761_Digital_Chain_of_Custody

Average return on investment (ROI) associated with security initiatives is the best metric to provide evidence of alignment of information security governance with corporate governance because it demonstrates the value and benefits of security investments to the organization's strategic goals and objectives. Average number of security incidents across business units is not a good metric because it does not measure the effectiveness or efficiency of security initiatives or their alignment with corporate governance. Mean time to resolution (MTTR) for enterprise-wide security incidents is not a good metric because it does not measure the impact or outcome of security initiatives or their alignment with corporate governance. Number of vulnerabilities identified for high-risk information assets is not a good metric because it does not measure the performance or improvement of security initiatives or their alignment with corporate governance. Reference: https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2015/volume-6/measuring-the-value-of-information-security-investments https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2015/volume-1/how-to-measure-the-effectiveness-of-information-security-governance