CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
A company is evaluating control types for a new system. The security team proposes implementing an intrusion detection system (IDS) and a backup restoration process. Which TWO control types do these represent, respectively?
⚠ Common exam trap
CRISC often tests whether candidates confuse detective with preventive controls — IDS is frequently mistaken for a preventive control because it 'stops' attacks, but it only detects, while backups are corrective, not preventive.
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
An IDS is a detective control (D) because it monitors network or host activity and generates alerts on suspicious or malicious events, but it does not block them, so it identifies rather than prevents incidents. A backup restoration process is a corrective control (E) because it restores systems and data to a known-good state after an incident, directly remediating the impact. Deterrent (A) controls discourage attackers (e.g., warning banners, guards) and do not detect or recover, so they do not fit. Preventive (B) controls such as firewalls, IPS, or access controls stop events before they occur, which an IDS does not do. Compensating (C) controls are alternative measures used when a primary control cannot be implemented, which is not the case for either IDS or backup restoration here.
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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Deterrent
Why it's wrong here
A deterrent control discourages potential attackers through fear of consequences, such as warning banners or visible cameras. An IDS is detective and backup restoration is corrective, so neither matches. Deterrent would be right if the stem described measures intended to dissuade attackers before any attempt.
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Preventive
Why it's wrong here
An IDS detects and alerts on intrusions rather than blocking them, so it is detective, and backup restoration is corrective, not preventive. Preventive controls (firewalls, access restrictions) stop incidents before they occur, which is why this pairing tempts when controls are assumed to pre-empt threats.
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Compensating
Why it's wrong here
A compensating control substitutes for a primary control that cannot be implemented, whereas an IDS is detective and backup restoration is corrective. Compensating would fit if, say, monitoring replaced an unavailable preventive control; here both controls operate as designed, so no substitution occurs.
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Detective
Why this is correct
An IDS monitors activity and raises alerts after or during an event, making it detective rather than preventive. It identifies intrusions without blocking them, which is the defining characteristic of detective controls as opposed to preventive, corrective or compensating types.
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Corrective
Why this is correct
An IDS is detective: it identifies intrusions as they occur but does not stop them, satisfying the monitoring requirement. Backup restoration is corrective, restoring systems to a known-good state after an incident, which directly meets the stem's recovery constraint. The two technologies therefore occupy different control-type axes.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISACA exam blueprint
This CRISC 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 CRISC exam.