security Controls Overview
Learn about different types of security controls and how they work together to protect information and systems. This is a foundational concept in information security and ethical hacking that professional developers rely on daily. The explanations below are written to be beginner-friendly while covering the depth and nuance that comes from real-world Cybersecurity experience. Take your time with each section and practice the examples
40 min•By Priygop Team•Last updated: Feb 2026
Administrative Controls
- security policies and procedures — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Training and awareness programs — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Background checks and screening — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Incident response plans — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Regular security audits — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
Technical Controls
- Firewalls and intrusion detection systems — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Antivirus and anti-malware software — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Access control systems — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- encryption and data protection — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Network monitoring tools — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
Physical Controls
- Locks and access cards — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- security cameras and surveillance — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Environmental controls (temperature, humidity) — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Secure disposal of media — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
- Visitor management systems — a critical concept in information security and ethical hacking that you will use frequently in real projects
Control Categories
- Preventive: Stop incidents before they occur
- Detective: Identify and detect security incidents
- Corrective: Fix issues after they're discovered
- Deterrent: Discourage potential attackers
- Compensating: Alternative controls when primary fails
Security Control Framework in Practice
Organizations use security control frameworks to systematically manage, evaluate, and improve their security measures. Each control is categorized, assigned a type, and regularly evaluated for effectiveness.
How Organizations Evaluate Security Controls
- Control Categories: Each security measure is classified as Administrative (policies and training), Technical (firewalls and encryption), or Physical (locks and cameras)
- Control Types: Controls are further classified by function — Preventive (stop incidents before they occur), Detective (identify incidents in progress), Corrective (fix issues after discovery), or Deterrent (discourage potential attackers)
- Effectiveness Metrics: Controls are evaluated based on incidents prevented, false positive rates, cost-effectiveness, and coverage percentage. High effectiveness means the control reliably prevents incidents without generating excessive false alarms
- Regular Reviews: Each control has a last-review date and an effectiveness score. Controls scoring below threshold are flagged for improvement, replacement, or supplementation with compensating controls
- Continuous Improvement: The framework generates actionable recommendations — such as increasing monitoring frequency, adding compensating controls, or upgrading to next-generation solutions