Which activity should a risk professional perform to check for deviations in firewall deployments from the enterprise's information security policy?

Reviewing the firewall parameter settings is essential for determining whether the deployments align with the organization's information security policy. Firewall parameter settings include configurations that dictate how the firewall operates, what types of traffic are allowed or denied, and any specific rules that have been established to protect the network. Ensuring that these settings are compliant with the established security policies is a critical step in maintaining a strong security posture.

If the parameter settings deviate from the enterprise's security policies, it may indicate that the firewall is not functioning as intended or is exposing the organization to unnecessary risks. By reviewing these settings, a risk professional can identify any misconfigurations or unauthorized changes and take corrective actions to align the firewall’s functionality with the policy requirements.

The other activities listed, while important for overall security monitoring and incident response, focus on different aspects of firewall management. Reviewing IPS logs is primarily concerned with identifying potential attacks rather than compliance with policy. Evaluating hardening procedures assesses the security measures taken to reinforce the configuration but may not reveal current deviations. Analyzing log files for recent attacks helps in understanding threat patterns but does not directly address the alignment of firewall configuration with security policies. Therefore, the most effective way to check for deviations from the policy is through a thorough review of