- A
Detective control
Why wrong: Detective controls identify incidents after they occur.
- B
Administrative control
Policies are administrative controls that guide behavior and define requirements.
- C
Technical control
Why wrong: Technical controls are mechanisms like encryption software; the policy is not a technical control itself.
- D
Physical control
Why wrong: Physical controls include locks, guards, etc.
Question 318 of 1,000
SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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 portable media containing sensitive data be encrypted. Which type of control does this requirement represent?
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
✓
Administrative control
This requirement is an administrative control because it is a policy mandate that defines rules and procedures for handling sensitive data. Administrative controls are management directives, such as security policies, standards, and guidelines, that govern behavior and processes. The encryption itself is a technical control, but the requirement to encrypt is a policy statement, which falls under administrative controls.
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.
- ✗
Detective control
Why it's wrong here
Detective controls identify incidents after they occur.
- ✓
Administrative control
Why this is correct
Policies are administrative controls that guide behavior and define requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Technical control
Why it's wrong here
Technical controls are mechanisms like encryption software; the policy is not a technical control itself.
- ✗
Physical control
Why it's wrong here
Physical controls include locks, guards, etc.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between the policy (administrative control) and the technology that enforces it (technical control), leading candidates to mistakenly select 'Technical control' because they focus on the encryption mechanism rather than the requirement itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Administrative controls form the foundation of a defense-in-depth strategy by defining the 'what' and 'why' of security, while technical controls implement the 'how'. For example, an organization might have an administrative policy requiring AES-256 encryption for all USB drives, which is then enforced by a technical control like BitLocker To Go or a DLP agent that automatically encrypts data upon write. Without the administrative policy, technical controls lack governance and may be inconsistently applied.
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 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
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 SSCP question test?
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Administrative control — This requirement is an administrative control because it is a policy mandate that defines rules and procedures for handling sensitive data. Administrative controls are management directives, such as security policies, standards, and guidelines, that govern behavior and processes. The encryption itself is a technical control, but the requirement to encrypt is a policy statement, which falls under administrative controls.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.
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