Technical Controls
Hardware and software mechanisms that enforce security automatically without human intervention. Also called logical controls, these include firewalls, encryption, access control lists, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection.
Understanding Technical Controls
Technical controls—also called logical controls—are security measures implemented through technology. Unlike policies that require people to follow rules, or physical barriers that block access, technical controls are enforced automatically by hardware and software.
When you configure a firewall rule, that rule executes every time without someone manually checking each packet. When encryption protects a file, the data stays encrypted whether or not anyone is watching. This automatic enforcement is what defines technical controls.
The exam uses "technical" and "logical" interchangeably. If you see either term, think: implemented through technology, enforced automatically.
Why This Matters for the Exam
Technical controls dominate the Security+ exam because they're the tools you'll actually configure as a security professional. While you need to understand all control categories, expect the majority of scenario questions to involve technical controls.
More importantly, many exam questions ask you to identify which type of control is being described. The key distinction: if a human must actively do something for the control to work, it's not a technical control. Technical controls work even when no one is paying attention.
Deep Dive
Common Technical Controls on the Exam
- •Firewalls — Filter network traffic based on rules
- •Encryption — Protect data confidentiality through cryptography
- •Access Control Lists (ACLs) — Define who can access what resources
- •Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) — Monitor and block malicious activity
- •Antivirus/Anti-malware — Detect and remove malicious software
- •Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) — Advanced endpoint monitoring and threat response
- •Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — Prevent unauthorized data exfiltration
- •Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) — Require multiple authentication factors
Technical Controls Can Serve Multiple Functions
- •A single technical control can be preventive, detective, or both:
- •Firewall blocking traffic = Preventive
- •IDS generating alerts = Detective
- •IPS blocking AND alerting = Both preventive and detective
Technical vs. Other Control Categories
- •Technical: Firewall blocks unauthorized traffic automatically
- •Managerial: Security policy states "unauthorized traffic must be blocked"
- •Operational: Security analyst reviews firewall logs daily
- •Physical: Locked door prevents access to the server room
The technical control is the actual mechanism enforcing security. The others support it but don't replace it.
How CompTIA Tests This
Example Analysis
Scenario: A company deploys software that monitors all workstations for malicious processes and can automatically quarantine infected files.
Analysis: This describes Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) or antivirus software. It's a technical control because: • It's implemented through software (technology) • It operates automatically without human intervention • It enforces security (quarantine) programmatically
Control type: This is both preventive (quarantine stops the malware from spreading) and detective (monitoring identifies malicious processes).
The exam often presents scenarios like this and asks you to identify the control category, type, or both.
Key Terms to Know
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Exam Tips
Memory Trick
"If it runs on electricity, it's probably technical."
More precisely: Technical controls are implemented IN systems, not BY people or AROUND systems.
- •IN the system: Firewall rules, encryption, ACLs → Technical
- •BY people: Training, log review, incident response → Operational
- •AROUND the system: Policies, procedures, standards → Managerial
- •Protecting the system physically: Locks, fences, guards → Physical
Test Your Knowledge
Q1.A company configures its email server to automatically encrypt all outbound messages containing credit card numbers. What type of control is this?
Q2.Which of the following is a detective technical control?
Q3.An organization implements a system that requires users to authenticate with both a password and a fingerprint scan before accessing sensitive applications. This is BEST described as:
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