Quick Answer
The answer is security awareness training and access control policy, as both are classic examples of administrative controls in information security. Administrative controls are management-level safeguards that define rules, roles, and responsibilities through documented directives, such as policies, procedures, and training programs, rather than through technical mechanisms like firewalls or physical barriers like locks. Security awareness training governs user behavior by educating staff on security practices, while an access control policy establishes the framework for granting or restricting access to information assets. On the Certified Information Systems Auditor CISA exam, this topic tests your ability to distinguish administrative controls from technical or physical controls—a common trap is confusing a policy (administrative) with its technical implementation, such as an access control list. Remember the mnemonic “PAT”: Policies, Awareness, and Training are the pillars of administrative controls; if it’s a document or a class, it’s administrative.
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. 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.
Which TWO of the following are examples of administrative controls for information security?
Intrusion detection system
Why wrong: IDS is a technical control.
Firewall configuration
Why wrong: Firewall configuration is a technical control.
Access control policy
Policies are administrative controls that define rules and procedures.
Encryption algorithms
Why wrong: Encryption is a technical control.
Security awareness training
Training is an administrative control that influences employee behavior.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Access control policy
Access control policy is an administrative control because it defines the rules, roles, and responsibilities for granting or restricting access to information assets. It is a documented directive that governs user behavior and management processes, not a technical mechanism. Administrative controls are management-level safeguards, such as policies, procedures, and training, that guide the implementation of technical and physical controls.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Intrusion detection system
Why it's wrong here
IDS is a technical control.
Firewall configuration
Why it's wrong here
Firewall configuration is a technical control.
Access control policy
Why this is correct
Policies are administrative controls that define rules and procedures.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Encryption algorithms
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a technical control.
Security awareness training
Why this is correct
Training is an administrative control that influences employee behavior.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
ISACA often tests the distinction between administrative, technical, and physical controls, and the trap here is that candidates confuse policy documents (administrative) with the technical mechanisms that implement them, such as firewalls or encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
Administrative controls form the foundation of a security governance framework, often documented in an Information Security Policy (ISP) that aligns with standards like ISO/IEC 27001. For example, an access control policy specifies user provisioning, periodic access reviews, and segregation of duties, which are enforced by technical controls like Active Directory group policies or IAM systems. In a real-world scenario, a missing access control policy can lead to privilege creep, where users accumulate excessive permissions over time, bypassing the principle of least privilege.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CISA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Protection of Information Assets — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Access control policy — Access control policy is an administrative control because it defines the rules, roles, and responsibilities for granting or restricting access to information assets. It is a documented directive that governs user behavior and management processes, not a technical mechanism. Administrative controls are management-level safeguards, such as policies, procedures, and training, that guide the implementation of technical and physical controls.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are examples of administrative controls for information security? (Choose two.)
easyWhy C: Option C is correct because an incident response policy is a documented set of procedures that defines roles, responsibilities, and steps to be taken when a security incident occurs. This is an administrative control as it governs human behavior and organizational processes, not technology. It aligns with the CISA domain of Protection of Information Assets by establishing a framework for detecting, responding to, and recovering from security events.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CISA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISACA 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 CISA exam.
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