- A
Detective control, because it discovers misuse after it happens.
Why wrong: Detective controls look for events after they occur, such as alerts, logs, and reviews. A screen-lock rule is not primarily about finding activity later.
- B
Directive control, because it tells users what behavior is required.
Directive controls guide or instruct behavior through policy, standards, or required procedures. A formal screen-lock requirement tells users and administrators what must be done, so it is a directive control.
- C
Corrective control, because it repairs damage after an incident.
Why wrong: Corrective controls reduce impact after something has already happened, such as restoring systems or removing malware. A screen-lock policy prevents weak behavior before an incident.
- D
Compensating control, because it replaces a missing technical safeguard.
Why wrong: Compensating controls are alternate safeguards used when the preferred control is not possible. This policy is not a substitute for another missing control; it is a direct instruction.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is directive control, because it mandates specific user behavior through a formal security policy rather than enforcing it with technology. A directive control is a procedural mechanism that guides actions by telling users what they must do—in this case, locking screens after 10 minutes of inactivity—relying on compliance rather than automated enforcement. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish between directive, preventive, detective, and corrective controls, with a common trap being to confuse a policy rule with a technical control like an automatic screen lock. Remember that directive controls are about “telling” not “doing”; they set expectations through written rules. For a quick memory tip, think of a directive as a “direction sign” that points to the required behavior but doesn’t force you to follow it—unlike a technical control that physically blocks the path.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small company wants all employees to lock their screens after 10 minutes of inactivity, and the rule is included in the formal security policy. What type of control is this?
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
Directive control, because it tells users what behavior is required.
A directive control is designed to guide or mandate user behavior through policies or procedures. In this case, the security policy explicitly requires employees to lock their screens after 10 minutes of inactivity, which is a directive that tells users what they must do. This is a procedural control, not a technical enforcement mechanism, so it falls under directive controls.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Detective control, because it discovers misuse after it happens.
Why it's wrong here
Detective controls look for events after they occur, such as alerts, logs, and reviews. A screen-lock rule is not primarily about finding activity later.
- ✓
Directive control, because it tells users what behavior is required.
Why this is correct
Directive controls guide or instruct behavior through policy, standards, or required procedures. A formal screen-lock requirement tells users and administrators what must be done, so it is a directive control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Corrective control, because it repairs damage after an incident.
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls reduce impact after something has already happened, such as restoring systems or removing malware. A screen-lock policy prevents weak behavior before an incident.
- ✗
Compensating control, because it replaces a missing technical safeguard.
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls are alternate safeguards used when the preferred control is not possible. This policy is not a substitute for another missing control; it is a direct instruction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing a directive control (policy-based) with a preventive control (technical enforcement); candidates often pick a wrong option because they assume the policy itself enforces the lock, but the question states the rule is 'included in the formal security policy,' not implemented via a technical mechanism.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In security control frameworks (e.g., NIST SP 800-53), directive controls are often documented as policies, standards, or guidelines that specify expected user actions. For screen locking, the technical enforcement would be a preventive control (e.g., Group Policy setting a 10-minute screen saver lock), but the policy alone is directive. Real-world example: an organization may have a policy requiring screen locks, but without technical enforcement, users might not comply—this highlights the difference between directive and preventive controls.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Directive control, because it tells users what behavior is required. — A directive control is designed to guide or mandate user behavior through policies or procedures. In this case, the security policy explicitly requires employees to lock their screens after 10 minutes of inactivity, which is a directive that tells users what they must do. This is a procedural control, not a technical enforcement mechanism, so it falls under directive controls.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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