This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. 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 TWO of the following are examples of physical access controls?
Encryption
Why wrong: Encryption protects data, not physical access.
Biometric scanners
Biometrics are physical attributes used for authentication.
Smart cards
Smart cards are physical tokens used for access.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Why wrong: IPS are network-based security systems.
Firewalls
Why wrong: Firewalls are network security devices.
Answer choices
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.
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.
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.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Smart cards
Why this is correct
Smart cards are physical tokens used for access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
Biometric scanners work by capturing a biometric sample (e.g., fingerprint minutiae or iris patterns), converting it into a digital template using algorithms like minutiae extraction or eigenface analysis, and comparing it against a stored template in a database (often with a False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and False Rejection Rate (FRR) trade-off). In real-world scenarios, these systems are often integrated with access control panels (e.g., using Wiegand protocol or OSDP) to trigger door strikes or magnetic locks, and they must handle environmental factors like dirt or lighting to maintain accuracy.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 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.
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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