easyMultiple Choice
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Is an example of a detective control in a…
Which of the following is an example of a detective control in a security operations context?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between preventive and detective controls, and the trap here is that candidates confuse 'blocking' or 'preventing' actions (like patching or firewalls) with detective controls that only monitor and alert after the fact.
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
✓
Reviewing audit logs for suspicious activity.
Detective controls are designed to identify and alert on security incidents after they have occurred. Reviewing audit logs for suspicious activity is a classic detective control because it involves examining historical records to detect unauthorized access or anomalies. In contrast, preventive controls like patching, MFA, and firewall rules aim to stop incidents before they happen.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Installing a security patch to fix a vulnerability.
Why it's wrong here
Patching remediates a vulnerability before exploitation, making it preventive rather than detective. It is tempting because patching is a core operational security task, but detective controls such as log monitoring or IDS alerts identify activity already occurring.
- ✓
Reviewing audit logs for suspicious activity.
Why this is correct
Reviewing audit logs is detective because it identifies activity after it has occurred, rather than blocking it. Log analysis detects suspicious behaviour and supports investigation, satisfying the stem's requirement for a control that discovers incidents rather than preventing them.
- ✗
Requiring multi-factor authentication for remote access.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-factor authentication blocks access attempts lacking a second factor, which is preventive. It is tempting because authentication events generate logs, yet the control itself stops intrusion rather than detecting it; detective controls include SIEM correlation and file integrity monitoring.
- ✗
Firewall rules blocking unauthorized traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules deny traffic before it reaches protected resources, so they are preventive. They are tempting because firewalls produce connection logs, but the blocking action itself is not detection; detective controls include IDS signatures and audit log review.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Access Control Fundamentals
Key term
MFA
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a security method that requires a user to verify their identity using two or more different types of evidence, such as a password plus a code from a phone, before they can access an account or system.
Key term
Alert
An alert is a notification that something unusual or potentially harmful has happened in a computer system or network.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on CC
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which of the following is an example of a detective control?
easy- A.Security awareness training
- B.Firewall
- C.Encryption
- ✓ D.Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Why D: A detective control is designed to identify and detect security incidents or violations after they occur. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors network traffic and system activities to identify malicious activities or policy violations, making it a classic example of a detective control. It alerts administrators to potential threats, allowing them to respond.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.