SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
A security team configures the SIEM to alert when a user account has several failed logins followed by a successful login from a new location. What type of control is this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse the SIEM's alerting capability with a preventive action, mistakenly thinking that because the alert is configured 'before' the successful login in the rule logic, it somehow blocks the event, when in fact the SIEM only detects and reports on completed events.
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, because it identifies suspicious activity after the event has started.
This is a detective control because the SIEM is configured to monitor and analyze log data after events have occurred, specifically identifying a pattern of several failed logins followed by a successful login from a new location. The alert does not prevent or block the login; it only notifies the security team of potentially suspicious activity that has already taken place, allowing them to investigate further.
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, because it blocks the login attempt before it occurs.
Why it's wrong here
A SIEM does not sit inline to block authentication attempts; it ingests logs and telemetry after activity has occurred, so it cannot prevent a login by itself. Preventive controls act before the event, such as an account lockout policy or MFA challenge that stops unauthorized access at the door. Because this alert simply flags suspicious behavior for review, it lacks the enforcement mechanism that would make it preventive.
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Detective control, because it identifies suspicious activity after the event has started.
Why this is correct
This is a detective control because the SIEM is observing activity and generating an alert when a suspicious pattern appears. It does not stop the login by itself, but it helps security staff notice possible compromise quickly. Detection is important for investigation and response, especially when an attacker has already obtained valid credentials.
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Corrective control, because it automatically fixes the account after the login succeeds.
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls are activated after an incident is confirmed and work to restore security or undo damage, like quarantining a compromised endpoint or rolling back unauthorized changes. A SIEM alert merely notifies analysts of a pattern it deems suspicious; it does not automatically quarantine accounts, reset passwords, or restore systems. The alert serves as the detection trigger that leads to corrective action, rather than the corrective action itself.
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Deterrent control, because it discourages attackers from trying to sign in.
Why it's wrong here
Deterrent controls rely on the attacker's perception that risks outweigh benefits, such as displaying a warning banner or posting visible surveillance cameras, and they influence decisions before an attack begins. An internal SIEM alert is invisible to the attacker and provides no psychological disincentive, so it cannot deter future or current intrusion attempts. Its purpose is to provide observability and trigger response, not to shape the adversary's cost-benefit analysis.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Security Controls
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
Key term
SIEM
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system that collects and analyzes log data from across an IT environment to detect and respond to security threats in real time.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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