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SSCP Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are examples of…
Which TWO of the following are examples of administrative controls in a security program? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between administrative, technical, and physical controls, and the trap here is that candidates confuse firewall rules or intrusion detection software (both technical controls) with administrative controls because they are part of a security program, but they are not process-based or policy-driven.
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
✓
Security policies
Security policies (A) are administrative controls because they define the rules, responsibilities, and expected behaviors for users and administrators, forming the foundation of a security program. Employee background checks (D) are also administrative controls, as they are personnel vetting procedures that reduce insider risk and enforce trust before granting access. Both are non-technical, process-based measures that guide human actions rather than directly blocking or detecting threats.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Security policies
Why this is correct
Policies are administrative directives.
- ✗
Firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules are technical controls.
- ✗
Locks on server room doors
Why it's wrong here
Locks are physical controls.
- ✓
Employee background checks
Why this is correct
Background checks are part of personnel security administrative control.
- ✗
Intrusion detection software
Why it's wrong here
IDS is a technical control.
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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.