This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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 administrative controls? (Choose two.)
Firewall rules
Why wrong: Firewalls are technical controls.
Access control policies
Policies are administrative controls.
Security awareness training
Training is an administrative control.
Security guards
Why wrong: Guards are physical controls.
Encryption of data at rest
Why wrong: Encryption is a technical control.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Access control policies
Access control policies (B) are administrative controls because they define the rules, procedures, and responsibilities for managing access to resources, forming the governance framework that guides technical and physical implementations. Security awareness training (C) is also an administrative control as it educates users on security policies and procedures, reducing human error and reinforcing organizational security culture.
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.
Firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewalls are technical controls.
Access control policies
Why this is correct
Policies are administrative controls.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Security awareness training
Why this is correct
Training is an administrative control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Security guards
Why it's wrong here
Guards are physical controls.
Encryption of data at rest
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a technical control.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse administrative controls with technical or physical controls, mistakenly selecting firewall rules or encryption because they are common security measures, but the SSCP exam specifically tests the distinction between administrative (policy/training), technical (software/hardware), and physical (guards/locks) control categories.
Detailed technical explanation
Administrative controls are the foundation of a defense-in-depth strategy, often documented in security policies, standards, and procedures that comply with frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 or ISO 27001. For example, an access control policy might specify role-based access control (RBAC) rules, while security awareness training ensures users understand phishing risks and password hygiene, directly reducing the likelihood of social engineering attacks.
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
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Access control policies — Access control policies (B) are administrative controls because they define the rules, procedures, and responsibilities for managing access to resources, forming the governance framework that guides technical and physical implementations. Security awareness training (C) is also an administrative control as it educates users on security policies and procedures, reducing human error and reinforcing organizational security culture.
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 11, 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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