CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
Which of the following is an example of a detective control?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse preventive controls (like firewalls and authentication) with detective controls (like IDS), as candidates often misclassify controls based on their general security function rather than their specific timing relative to the incident.
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
✓
Intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts
An intrusion detection system (IDS) monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and generates alerts when it detects potential threats. This is a detective control because it identifies and reports security incidents after they occur, rather than preventing them. IDS alerts provide visibility into ongoing or past attacks, enabling incident response.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Backup restoration after data loss
Why it's wrong here
This is a corrective control.
- ✗
Firewall rules blocking unauthorized traffic
Why it's wrong here
This is a preventive control.
- ✗
Requiring two-factor authentication
Why it's wrong here
This is a preventive control.
- ✓
Intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts
Why this is correct
IDS alerts detect potential incidents after they occur.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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