Question

Difficulty: MediumSecurity Control Categories and Types

An organization is categorizing its security controls based on CompTIA Security+ implementation categories (Technical, Managerial, Operational, Physical) and functional types (Preventive, Deterrent, Detective, Corrective, Compensating, Directive). Match each implemented security control on the left with its correct dual-classification on the right.

  • Restoring system operations from air-gapped immutable backups following a ransomware incidentTechnical category and Corrective type
  • Posting high-visibility warning signs along a perimeter fence stating that unauthorized entry triggers prosecutionPhysical category and Deterrent type
  • Publishing an enterprise-wide security governance document mandating acceptable asset usage practicesManagerial category and Directive type
  • Deploying passive Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) sensors to monitor core traffic for anomalous patternsTechnical category and Detective type

Answer

Restoring backups matches Technical category and Corrective type; warning signs match Physical category and Deterrent type; security policy documentation matches Managerial category and Directive type; passive NIDS sensors match Technical category and Detective type.
Each mechanism aligns directly with its primary implementation axis and operational goal: system restoration via backups is Technical and Corrective; physical signage dissuading entry is Physical and Deterrent; administrative usage policies are Managerial and Directive; and passive network intrusion monitoring is Technical and Detective.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each security control's implementation method to assign the category (Technical, Managerial, Operational, or Physical).
Backups and NIDS are Technical (systems/software); warning signs are Physical (facility fixtures); security policies are Managerial (administrative governance).
CompTIA Security+ defines categories based on how a mechanism is constructed and deployed.
2
Evaluate the functional goal of each security control within the incident timeline (Preventive, Deterrent, Detective, Corrective, Compensating, or Directive).
Backups restore lost state (Corrective); signs warn off intruders (Deterrent); policies mandate rules (Directive); NIDS identifies anomalies (Detective).
Functional types reflect what the control accomplishes when mitigating security risks.
3
Pair each security mechanism with its corresponding category and functional type pair.
All four pairs matched accurately without ambiguity.
Dual-axis classification evaluates implementation method alongside security goal.

Key Concept

Dual-axis security control classification under CompTIA Security+ SY0-701.
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