Quick Answer
The answer is a preventive security control because a mandatory password change every 90 days proactively stops unauthorized access before it can occur. This control reduces the window of opportunity for an attacker to exploit stolen or guessed credentials, directly preventing prolonged compromise by enforcing a security baseline. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish preventive controls from detective or corrective ones—a common trap is confusing a password change policy with a detective control like logging failed attempts. Remember, preventive controls act as a barrier, not a monitor. A quick memory tip: think of the password change as a “reset the lock” rule—it prevents old keys from working, so attackers can’t use them later.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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's security policy requires that all employees change their passwords every 90 days. This is an example of which type of security control?
Deterrent control
Why wrong: While it may deter, the main intent is to prevent unauthorized access through periodic changes.
Detective control
Why wrong: Password changes do not detect incidents; they are proactive.
Preventive control
Regular password changes help prevent unauthorized access if credentials are stolen.
Corrective control
Why wrong: Corrective controls fix issues after detection; password changes are scheduled.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Preventive control
Password expiration policies, such as requiring a change every 90 days, are classified as preventive controls because they proactively reduce the risk of credential compromise by limiting the window of opportunity for an attacker to use a stolen or guessed password. This control enforces a security baseline before any unauthorized access can occur, directly preventing prolonged use of compromised credentials.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Deterrent control
Why it's wrong here
While it may deter, the main intent is to prevent unauthorized access through periodic changes.
Detective control
Why it's wrong here
Password changes do not detect incidents; they are proactive.
Preventive control
Why this is correct
Regular password changes help prevent unauthorized access if credentials are stolen.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls fix issues after detection; password changes are scheduled.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between preventive and deterrent controls, where candidates mistakenly classify password policies as deterrent because they 'discourage' sharing, but the key is that password expiration actively blocks access, not just discourages behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, password expiration policies are enforced via operating system Group Policy Objects (GPOs) or directory service settings (e.g., Active Directory's 'Maximum password age' attribute, default 42 days per NIST SP 800-63B, though 90 days is common in legacy environments). When a password expires, the system blocks authentication until the user changes it, effectively preventing any further use of the old hash. In real-world scenarios, this control mitigates risks from credential dumping (e.g., Mimikatz) where an attacker captures a password hash and attempts to reuse it over an extended period.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Preventive control — Password expiration policies, such as requiring a change every 90 days, are classified as preventive controls because they proactively reduce the risk of credential compromise by limiting the window of opportunity for an attacker to use a stolen or guessed password. This control enforces a security baseline before any unauthorized access can occur, directly preventing prolonged use of compromised credentials.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
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