CRISC Risk Response and Reporting Practice Question
An organization is implementing a new control to prevent unauthorized access to its critical database. Which type of control is most appropriate for this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse 'preventive' with 'detective' controls, mistakenly choosing detective controls (like logging) because they are more visible in audit reports, but the question explicitly asks for a control that 'prevents' access, which requires a proactive blocking mechanism.
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
✓
Preventive control
A preventive control is the most appropriate because it directly stops unauthorized access before it can occur. For a critical database, this could involve implementing database-level access control lists (ACLs), network firewall rules restricting traffic to specific IP ranges, or mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) on the database service. These mechanisms enforce the security policy at the point of entry, blocking the threat actor before any interaction with the data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Compensating control
Why it's wrong here
Compensating controls are alternatives when primary controls are not feasible, not necessarily preventive.
- ✓
Preventive control
Why this is correct
Preventive controls, like access controls and authentication mechanisms, stop unauthorized access before it happens.
- ✗
Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls fix issues after they occur, not prevent them.
- ✗
Detective control
Why it's wrong here
Detective controls identify unauthorized access after it has occurred, not prevent it.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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