Directive Controls

5 minutes 5 Questions

Directive controls are defined procedures, guidelines, or other written instructions that mandate specific actions to manage security risks. These controls help guide an organization's security efforts and establish the foundation for other security controls. A directive control can include policies, standards, procedures, and guidelines. In CISSP courses, students learn to create clear and concise directive controls to communicate security expectations and establish a framework that enables the effective implementation of security measures throughout the organization.

Comprehensive Guide: Understanding and Implementing Directive Controls

What is Directive Control:
Directive controls are a type of security control that is designed to instruct, guide, and mandate certain activities. They provide the direction necessary for the operation, implementation, and management of systems and practices.

Why Directive Controls are Important:
Directive Controls are incredibly important for an organization because they lay out the standard procedures for all to follow. These procedures are fundamental in providing a safe and secure IT environment within the organization.

How Directive Controls Work:
Each Directive Control is issued by a central authority, with it usually being a written instruction or order. They can be delivered in many forms, including in the form of policies, procedures or regulations. An example would be a data retention directive that specifies the length of time data should be stored.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Directive Controls:
It is imperative to understand the following when it comes to answering exam questions on Directive Controls:
1. Remember, Directive Controls are a form of formal instruction or order.
2. They originate from a central authority.
3. They deliver a standardized mechanism of procedure for the organisation.
4. Examples can range from data retention to regulatory compliance directions.
Your main strategy for answering these types of questions would be to understand the key characteristics of Directive Controls, their implementation and their role in an organization's security strategy. Always refer back to these points when answering questions on Directive Controls.

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Question 1

A company implements a Directive Control to increase employee awareness of security policies. Which of the following control would be the best choice?

Implementation of a network intrusion prevention system Logging all user activity Regular security policy discussion sessions Encryption of all sensitive data

Correct Answer: Regular security policy discussion sessions

Directive Controls focus on educating users about security policies and procedures. Regular security policy discussion sessions enable employees to understand and follow security policies better. The other options are examples of preventive, detective, and technical controls.

Question 2

A company recently experienced a security breach. The management decides to implement stronger security measures. Which of the following is an example of a Directive Control to ensure employees adhere to the new security policies?

Mandatory security awareness training Biometric access Installing a firewall Security camera surveillance

Correct Answer: Mandatory security awareness training

Directive Controls are management-oriented and focus on educating users about security policies and procedures. Mandatory security awareness training helps ensure employees understand and follow security policies, while the other options are examples of preventive, detective, and technical controls.

Question 3

A manufacturing organization needs to enforce safety guidelines to reduce accidents in the workplace. Which Directive Control would be effective in this scenario?

Deploying a security information and event management (SIEM) system Mandatory safety training for all employees Implementing access control based on job roles Installing security cameras throughout the facility

Correct Answer: Mandatory safety training for all employees

Directive Controls involve educating users on policies and procedures. Mandatory safety training for all employees ensures that they are aware of and comply with safety guidelines. All other options are examples of preventive, detective, and technical controls.

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