SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
A restricted server room opens only with a badge, and an alarm sounds if the door is left open too long. Which control type is the alarm?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between detective and corrective controls, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think the alarm 'corrects' the situation by alerting, but corrective controls actually take action to restore security, such as automatically closing the door.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
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Detective control
The alarm is a detective control because it detects and alerts when a door is left open too long, indicating a potential security breach. It does not prevent the door from being opened or correct the situation; it simply notifies personnel of an ongoing or past violation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Preventive control
Why it's wrong here
A door alarm is not a preventive control because it does not stop the door from being opened or left ajar. Preventive controls, such as the badge reader or a mantraplock, physically block or restrict access before an incident occurs. The alarm only triggers after the abnormal condition exists, meaning it cannot prevent the initial event. Therefore, classifying it as preventive misrepresents its role in the security timeline.
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Detective control
Why this is correct
A door alarm is a detective control because it alerts staff after a condition occurs, such as the door being left open too long or forced open. It helps security personnel notice a problem quickly so they can respond. In this scenario, the badge controls access, while the alarm detects an abnormal state and signals that action is needed.
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Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
A corrective control is meant to remediate or restore the system after an actual security breach or incident occurs—for example, automatically relocking the door or reverting to a default secure state. The door alarm does not take any corrective action; it merely reports the abnormal condition so that staff can respond manually. It alerts to a problem but does not fix the problem itself, so it cannot be considered a corrective control.
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Deterrent control
Why it's wrong here
A deterrent control is designed to discourage a potential attacker from attempting an action in the first place—such as warning signs, visible cameras, or patrols. A door alarm triggered only after a door is forced open or left open too long does not provide any psychological or physical deterrent before the event. Its primary function is to detect and announce a condition that already exists, not to prevent the initial decision or action. Thus, it is not a deterrent control.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.