Security controls are security measures used to protect computer systems, network devices, software assets, and electronic data from cyber threats and other external threats. In simple terms, what are security controls? They are the policies, processes, and technologies an organization uses to reduce risk, prevent data breaches, and maintain a strong security posture.

Security professionals design information security controls to support an organization’s security goals and meet security requirements, including protecting valuable assets and sensitive data.

Why Are Security Controls Important?

Effective security controls help reduce security risks by limiting exposure to security vulnerabilities and improving an organization’s security posture over time. Without appropriate controls, security incidents can lead to downtime, data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.

Security controls also help protect confidentiality, integrity and availability, the core principles of information security.

Types of Security Controls

There are several ways to categorize security controls, but one widely used framework is ISO/IEC 27001. In ISO 27001, controls are grouped into four main themes: organizational, people, physical, and technological controls. This structure is helpful because it reflects how information security works across the whole business, not just within IT systems.

Organizational Controls

Organizational controls focus on how information security is governed, managed, documented, and improved across the business. These controls help establish accountability, define responsibilities, and support consistent decision-making.

Examples of organizational controls include:

  • Information security policies and standards
  • Risk management processes and risk assessments
  • Asset management procedures
  • Supplier and third-party security requirements
  • Incident response planning and reporting procedures
  • Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
  • Access management processes and account lifecycle procedures

Strong organizational controls help ensure that security is not handled as a one-off technical task. They make security part of day-to-day business operations.

People Controls

People controls focus on reducing human-related security risks. These controls help employees, contractors, and other users understand their responsibilities and follow secure practices when handling systems, data, and business information.

Examples of people controls include:

  • Security awareness training
  • Role-based security responsibilities
  • Acceptable use policies
  • Confidentiality agreements
  • Screening and onboarding procedures
  • Processes for employee role changes and offboarding
  • Ongoing guidance for recognizing phishing, social engineering, and other security threats

People controls are important because many security incidents involve human action, such as clicking a malicious link, misusing access, or failing to follow approved procedures.

Physical Controls

Physical controls focus on protecting offices, equipment, systems, and infrastructure from unauthorized physical access, damage, or disruption.

Examples of physical controls include:

  • Locked server rooms and badge-controlled entry
  • Visitor management procedures
  • Security guards and reception controls
  • Surveillance cameras and alarm systems
  • Secure disposal of hardware and printed materials
  • Environmental controls for network devices and critical systems
  • Protection against fire, water damage, power loss, and other physical risks

Physical access is often overlooked, but it can create a direct path to compromised systems, stolen data, or operational disruption.

Technological Controls

Technological controls use systems, tools, and technical configurations to protect information assets, monitor activity, and reduce security risks across the IT environment.

Examples of technological controls include:

  • Access controls such as multi-factor authentication and least privilege
  • Antivirus and endpoint detection solutions
  • Secure configuration baselines
  • Intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems
  • Network monitoring and network traffic analysis
  • Vulnerability scanning and vulnerability assessment processes
  • Encryption, logging, backup, and system hardening measures

Technological controls are essential for protecting enterprise assets, identifying weak points, detecting suspicious activity, and limiting attacker movement across systems.

Preventive, Detective, and Corrective Controls

Security control frameworks often describe controls by function:

  • Preventive controls, such as access controls, secure configuration, and intrusion prevention systems, reduce the likelihood of an incident.
  • Detective controls, such as intrusion detection systems, network monitoring, and endpoint detection, help identify suspicious activity.
  • Corrective controls, such as incident response plans, backups, and recovery processes, reduce the impact after an event.

A balanced approach helps reduce risk before, during, and after security incidents.

How Controls Align With Frameworks

Many organizations map their information security controls to recognized security control frameworks, including the ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and CIS Critical Security Controls. These frameworks help teams prioritize controls based on risk and maturity, especially for critical systems and sensitive data.

Assessing and Improving Security Controls

Controls should be reviewed and tested regularly. A security control assessment is often performed as part of a broader security assessment, which may include vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and risk management reviews. These efforts help confirm that an organization’s security controls are working as intended and aligned with security requirements.