- A
Detective
IDS detects incidents after they occur.
- B
Corrective
Why wrong: Corrective controls respond and recover, e.g., backup.
- C
Compensating
Why wrong: Compensating controls are alternatives when primary control is not feasible.
- D
Preventive
Why wrong: Preventive controls stop events, e.g., firewalls.
Question 853 of 1,000
CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. 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.
An organization implements an intrusion detection system (IDS) to monitor for security incidents. This is an example of which type of control?
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
An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a detective control because it monitors network traffic or system activity for signs of malicious behavior or policy violations and generates alerts when such patterns are detected. Unlike preventive controls, an IDS does not block or stop the attack in real time; it only identifies and reports the incident for subsequent investigation and response.
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
Why this is correct
IDS detects incidents after they occur.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Corrective
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls respond and recover, e.g., backup.
- ✗
Compensating
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls are alternatives when primary control is not feasible.
- ✗
Preventive
Why it's wrong here
Preventive controls stop events, e.g., firewalls.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse an IDS with an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System), which is a preventive control because it can actively block traffic, whereas the question specifically asks about an IDS, which is purely detective.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
An IDS typically uses signature-based detection (matching traffic against known attack patterns, e.g., Snort rules) or anomaly-based detection (establishing a baseline and flagging deviations). In real-world deployments, an IDS can be network-based (NIDS) analyzing raw packets or host-based (HIDS) examining system logs and file integrity; it operates out-of-band, meaning it receives a copy of traffic rather than sitting inline, which ensures it does not introduce latency but also means it cannot block attacks. A subtle behavior is that a properly tuned IDS can reduce false positives by using threshold-based alerts, but it still requires human or automated follow-up to act on the alert.
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 practitioner preparing for the CRISC 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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
Questions learners often ask
What does this CRISC question test?
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Detective — An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a detective control because it monitors network traffic or system activity for signs of malicious behavior or policy violations and generates alerts when such patterns are detected. Unlike preventive controls, an IDS does not block or stop the attack in real time; it only identifies and reports the incident for subsequent investigation and response.
What should I do if I get this CRISC 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: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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