Security Controls Overview

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Questions and Answers

What type of controls could be best described as discouraging unauthorized access without necessarily preventing it?

Directive controls

Managerial controls

Deterrent controls (correct)

Physical controls

Which of the following is an example of a directive control implementation?

Installing intrusion detection systems

Employing security guards on the premises

Using biometric scanners for access control

Providing security awareness training to employees (correct)

Which type of control focuses on identifying suspicious activities and potential breaches?

Deterrent controls

Managerial controls

Physical controls

Detective controls (correct)

What is an example of a managerial control?

Establishing security policies and procedures (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes physical controls in a security context?

Techniques to restrict access to physical locations (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which category of security controls focuses on administrative and policy-based measures?

Managerial (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of preventative controls?

Reduce the likelihood of security incidents (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a technical control?

Encryption (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of security control can be employed when a primary control is not feasible?

Compensating Controls (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which category of controls is primarily concerned with the day-to-day management of security measures?

Operational (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of detective controls?

Identifying security incidents after they occur (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of managerial controls?

User account management (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples is a physical control?

Surveillance cameras (D) Signup and view all the answers

What do operational controls primarily ensure?

Implementation of security policies and procedures (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following technologies is NOT classified as a technical control?

Surveillance camera (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Security Controls

Security controls help protect the organization’s assets and data
Controls act as a “defense-in-depth” approach
Security controls help ensure CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability

Categories of Security Controls

There are four main categories of controls:
- Technical: Tools and technologies like firewalls, encryption, and access controls
- Managerial: Administrative and policy-based measures like creating security policies and risk assessments
- Operational: Day-to-day practices and procedures, like user account management
- Physical: Security measures for physical premises and assets, like access control systems and surveillance cameras

Hierarchy of Security Controls

Security controls have a top-down hierarchy
- Managerial controls set high-level policies and frameworks
- Operational controls implement the policies and procedures defined by managerial controls
- Technical controls are the actual implementation using tools and technologies
- Physical controls support the other control categories

Managerial Controls

Purpose: Guide and manage the organization's overall security program
Responsibilities:
- Setting security policies
- Defining roles and responsibilities
- Ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards
Examples:
- Security policies and procedures
- Risk assessments and risk management processes
- Security awareness training for employees
- Incident response and management plans
- Security audits and assessments
- Security governance and compliance frameworks

Operational Controls

Purpose: Ensure effective implementation of security policies and technical controls
Responsibilities:
- Ongoing management and operations of security systems and processes
- Supervising teams’ adherence to security policies
Examples:
- User account management and provisioning
- Security monitoring and incident detection
- Backup and recovery procedures
- Change management processes
- Physical access control to data centers or comm’s closets
- Security log reviews and analysis
- Patch management and system maintenance program

Technical Controls

Purpose: Employ technologies and tools to protect systems and data
Examples:
- Data encryption (at rest and in transit)
- Firewalls
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
- Data loss prevention (DLP)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Anti-virus (AV) software
- Mobile device management (MDM)
- Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
- Log analysis
- Incident response processes
- Network segmentation and isolation
- Firewall configurations
- Biometric authentication systems
- Security patches and software updates

Physical Controls

Purpose: Protect the organization's physical premises and assets
Examples:
- Access control systems (biometric readers, scanners)
- Surveillance cameras
- Security guards
- Fencing and barriers
- Intrusion detection systems for physical facilities
- Secure storage for documents and equipment
- Shred policies
- Data destruction policies and equipment
- Environmental controls (fire suppression systems, climate control)

Control Types

Preventative Controls

Purpose: Proactively reduce the likelihood of security incidents
Examples:
- Firewalls
- Access control systems (ACLs)
- Encryption
- Strong authentication
- Patching systems before an incident occurs

Detective Controls

Purpose: Identify security incidents after they have occurred
Examples:
- Log analysis
- Security audits
- Intrusion detection systems (IDS)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Corrective Controls

Purpose: Respond to and correct security incidents and breaches
Examples:
- Incident response plans
- Patch management
- Data recovery procedures
- Backups

Compensating Controls

Purpose: Provide alternative or additional security measures when primary controls are not feasible or insufficient
Examples:
- End-of-life or end-of-service systems
- Implementing multiple layers of security to address vulnerabilities
- Multi-factor authentication as a backup for forgotten usernames and passwords
- Implementing a host-based firewall on a legacy server that cannot be upgraded

Deterrent Controls

Deterrent controls discourage attackers and unauthorized individuals from breaching security, but don't necessarily prevent access.
Examples include:
- Warning signs
- Security cameras
- Intrusion detection systems

Directive Controls

Directive controls provide guidance on security policies, procedures, and best practices.
Examples include:
- Security policies
- Security awareness training
- Security guidelines for employees

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Description

This quiz covers the essential concepts of security controls, including their importance in protecting organizational assets and the CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. It also explores the categories and hierarchy of security controls, providing a comprehensive understanding of how they fit into security management.