What are the 4 types of controls?

Okay, so you wanna know about the different types of security controls, huh? Well, from what I’ve gathered – and trust me, I’ve seen some stuff working in IT for years – there are generally four main kinds. Think of it like layers of defense, right?

First up, we have deterrent controls. These are all about scaring off the bad guys before they even think about trying anything. You know, things like big, obvious security cameras, or even just signs that say “Warning: Security System in Use.” It’s like putting a “Beware of Dog” sign even if you only have a chihuahua – sometimes, the idea is enough. I remember one time, a friend of mine put up a fake security camera outside his apartment after a string of package thefts, and it totally worked! He didn’t lose a single package after that. Isn’t that wild?

Then comes preventive controls. These are the ones that actively stop attacks from happening. Think strong passwords, firewalls, locks on doors (duh!), that sort of thing. They’re the front line of defense. You know, like that super annoying two-factor authentication that pops up every time you try to log into your bank account? Yeah, that’s a preventive control, and as annoying as it is, it’s there for a reason! Believe me, I’ve been locked out of accounts so many times I’ve lost count.

Next, we’ve got detective controls. So, stuff will get through sometimes, right? That’s where these come in. Detective controls are like alarms or security guards – they’re there to spot anything suspicious that slipped past the preventive measures. This could be intrusion detection systems on your network, or even just closely monitoring security logs for unusual activity. I mean, imagine having a security system that lets you know when something goes wrong, versus knowing that something went wrong only after the damage is done.

And finally, corrective controls. Because, let’s be real, things will go wrong. It’s Murphy’s Law, right? Corrective controls are all about bouncing back and fixing the damage after an incident. Things like restoring from backups after a ransomware attack, or patching a vulnerability that was exploited. I remember once, our server room flooded (seriously!), and it was the backups that saved our bacon. You don’t think about it until it happens, but having a solid recovery plan is a life-saver!

So yeah, deterrent, preventive, detective, and corrective. That’s the whole enchilada! They all work together to create a layered security posture, and honestly, you need them all. Because, you know, better safe than sorry, right? Especially when it comes to protecting your stuff!