mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
SSCP Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are examples of…
Which THREE of the following are examples of detective controls?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse preventive controls (like firewalls and encryption) with detective controls, mistakenly thinking that any security tool that 'stops' or 'protects' data also detects attacks, when in fact detective controls only identify and report incidents without blocking them.
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
✓
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a detective control because it passively monitors network traffic or system activity for signs of malicious behavior or policy violations, generating alerts when suspicious patterns are detected. Unlike a preventive control, an IDS does not block traffic; it only identifies and reports incidents after they occur or in real-time, making it a classic example of a detective security measure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
Why this is correct
IDS detects intrusions and alerts.
- ✓
Security information and event management (SIEM)
Why this is correct
SIEM collects and analyzes logs for suspicious activity.
- ✗
Data encryption at rest
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a protective control.
- ✓
Log monitoring and analysis
Why this is correct
Monitors logs to detect anomalies.
- ✗
Firewall with default-deny rule
Why it's wrong here
Firewall is a preventive control.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 920 original SSCP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.