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? (Choose two.)
Encryption of data at rest
Why wrong: Encryption is a technical control.
Biometric access controls
Why wrong: Biometrics are physical/technical.
Incident response policy
Policy is an administrative control.
Security awareness training
Training is an administrative control.
Firewall configuration
Why wrong: Firewall is a technical control.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Incident response policy
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.
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.
Encryption of data at rest
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a technical control.
Biometric access controls
Why it's wrong here
Biometrics are physical/technical.
Incident response policy
Why this is correct
Policy is an administrative control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Security awareness training
Why this is correct
Training is an administrative control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Firewall configuration
Why it's wrong here
Firewall is a technical control.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse administrative controls with technical or physical controls, mistakenly selecting encryption or firewall configuration because they are common security measures, but the CISA exam specifically tests the distinction that administrative controls are policy-based and people-focused, not technology-based.
Detailed technical explanation
Administrative controls, also known as procedural controls, form the foundation of a defense-in-depth strategy by establishing governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks. For example, an incident response policy typically references the NIST SP 800-61 framework, detailing phases such as preparation, detection and analysis, containment/eradication/recovery, and post-incident activity. In contrast, technical controls like encryption or firewalls enforce security at the system level but are ineffective without proper administrative oversight to define how they are configured, monitored, and updated.
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.
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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: Incident response policy — 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.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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