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ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are examples of…
Which TWO of the following are examples of physical access controls?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between physical controls (tangible, hardware-based mechanisms that restrict physical access) and logical/technical controls (software or network-based protections), causing candidates to mistakenly classify encryption or firewalls as physical controls.
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
✓
Biometric scanners
Biometric scanners (Option B) are physical access controls because they authenticate individuals based on unique biological traits (e.g., fingerprints, iris patterns) to grant or deny entry to a physical space, such as a server room or data center. This is a tangible, hardware-based mechanism that directly controls physical access, aligning with the definition of physical access controls in the CC exam.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data, not physical access.
- ✓
Biometric scanners
Why this is correct
Biometrics are physical attributes used for authentication.
- ✓
Smart cards
Why this is correct
Smart cards are physical tokens used for access.
- ✗
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Why it's wrong here
IPS are network-based security systems.
- ✗
Firewalls
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls are network security devices.
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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.