Which of the following is a preventive physical security control?

Question

Options

• AVideo surveillance system
• BBollards
• CAlarm system
• DMotion sensors

• A
  5% (2)
• B
  90% (37)
• C
  2% (1)
• D
  2% (1)

Explanation

Bollards are short, sturdy posts installed to physically block vehicle access to an area - they prevent a threat from occurring in the first place, which is the defining characteristic of a preventive control. Unlike the other options, a bollard doesn't just observe or alert; it stops the threat entirely through a physical barrier.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A. Video surveillance - detective control; it records and monitors activity but cannot stop an incident from happening.
• C. Alarm system - detective/corrective control; it alerts personnel after or during a breach, not before.
• D. Motion sensors - detective control; they identify movement and trigger alerts but take no action to stop an intruder.

Memory tip: Think of the three D's - Detect, Deter, Prevent. Cameras, alarms, and motion sensors all detect. Bollards physically prevent - if a vehicle can't pass through, there's nothing left to detect. When you see a physical object that blocks rather than watches, that's your preventive control.

No community discussion yet for this question.