- A
Backup restoration after data loss
Why wrong: This is a corrective control.
- B
Firewall rules blocking unauthorized traffic
Why wrong: This is a preventive control.
- C
Requiring two-factor authentication
Why wrong: This is a preventive control.
- D
Intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts
IDS alerts detect potential incidents after they occur.
Question 744 of 1,000
CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 of the following is an example of a detective 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
✓
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing 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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
An IDS can be network-based (NIDS) or host-based (HIDS), analyzing traffic or system logs against signatures or behavioral baselines. For example, a signature-based NIDS like Snort uses pattern matching against known attack signatures (e.g., SQL injection patterns), while an anomaly-based IDS establishes a baseline of normal traffic and flags deviations. The key distinction from a firewall is that an IDS operates in promiscuous mode (passive) and does not block traffic, only alerts.
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: 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.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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