- A
Preventive control
Why wrong: Incorrect. Preventive controls are designed to stop security incidents before they occur, such as firewalls or access control lists. An IDS does not block traffic; it only monitors and alerts.
- B
Detective control
Correct. A detective control identifies and logs security events after they happen or in real time. The described system passively monitors and generates alerts, which is the hallmark of a detective control like an IDS.
- C
Corrective control
Why wrong: Incorrect. Corrective controls are implemented to remediate or recover from an incident (e.g., backup restoration, patching a vulnerability). An IDS does not take action to fix issues; it only detects them.
- D
Deterrent control
Why wrong: Incorrect. Deterrent controls aim to discourage potential attackers (e.g., warning signs, security cameras). While an IDS can indirectly deter, its primary function is detection, not deterrence.
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 company is enhancing its network security posture. The security team deploys a system that passively monitors network traffic, analyzes packets for signs of malicious activity, and generates alerts when suspicious patterns are detected. This system does not actively block or modify any traffic. Which type of security control does this system BEST represent?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Detective control
This system is a detective control because it passively monitors network traffic, analyzes packets for signs of malicious activity, and generates alerts without actively blocking or modifying traffic. Detective controls are designed to identify and report security incidents after they occur or as they happen, which aligns with the described behavior of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Unlike preventive controls, it does not enforce policy or stop threats in real time.
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.
- ✗
Preventive control
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Preventive controls are designed to stop security incidents before they occur, such as firewalls or access control lists. An IDS does not block traffic; it only monitors and alerts.
- ✓
Detective control
Why this is correct
Correct. A detective control identifies and logs security events after they happen or in real time. The described system passively monitors and generates alerts, which is the hallmark of a detective control like an IDS.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Corrective controls are implemented to remediate or recover from an incident (e.g., backup restoration, patching a vulnerability). An IDS does not take action to fix issues; it only detects them.
When this WOULD be correct
A question describing a system that automatically quarantines infected endpoints, restores clean backups, or patches vulnerabilities after detecting an intrusion would make corrective control the correct answer.
- ✗
Deterrent control
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Deterrent controls aim to discourage potential attackers (e.g., warning signs, security cameras). While an IDS can indirectly deter, its primary function is detection, not deterrence.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Detective controlCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. A detective control identifies and logs security events after they happen or in real time. The described system passively monitors and generates alerts, which is the hallmark of a detective control like an IDS.
✗Preventive controlWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The system described only monitors and alerts; it does not actively block or prevent malicious activity, so it is not a preventive control.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A firewall configured with rules to block unauthorized inbound traffic, or an intrusion prevention system (IPS) that automatically drops malicious packets, would be a preventive control.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse detection with prevention, thinking that generating alerts helps prevent attacks, but prevention requires active blocking.
✗Corrective controlWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The system described is passive and only monitors traffic without taking action to remediate or reverse damage, which is the purpose of corrective controls. Corrective controls are applied after an incident to restore systems, not to detect ongoing threats.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question describing a system that automatically quarantines infected endpoints, restores clean backups, or patches vulnerabilities after detecting an intrusion would make corrective control the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse detective and corrective controls because both involve response to incidents; however, corrective controls actively fix or mitigate damage, whereas detective controls only identify and alert.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) with an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), mistakenly selecting 'preventive control' because they think any security tool that detects threats also blocks them, but the question explicitly states the system does not block or modify traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This system is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which typically uses signature-based detection (matching packet payloads against known attack patterns like Snort rules) or anomaly-based detection (comparing traffic baselines against statistical models). A key subtlety is that IDS operates out-of-band, often receiving a copy of traffic via a SPAN port or network TAP, so it cannot introduce latency or single points of failure. In contrast, an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) would be inline and actively drop malicious packets, making it a preventive control.
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: Detective control — This system is a detective control because it passively monitors network traffic, analyzes packets for signs of malicious activity, and generates alerts without actively blocking or modifying traffic. Detective controls are designed to identify and report security incidents after they occur or as they happen, which aligns with the described behavior of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Unlike preventive controls, it does not enforce policy or stop threats in real time.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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