Which Security Controls Do Cameras and Warning Signs Represent?
Short answer
BD Deterrent Detective
Question
Key Takeaways
The question evaluates your ability to distinguish between control types based on intent, with the common trap being the misclassification of psychological warnings as preventive measures.
This SY0-701 question tests the classification of physical security controls by matching tools to their primary functions. Community consensus confirms that warning signs act as deterrents while surveillance cameras serve as detective controls.
Common mistake: Candidates frequently choose Preventive or Directive, incorrectly assuming that visible signs completely stop incidents or that cameras actively block unauthorized entry rather than merely monitoring it.
Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Warning signs explicitly inform individuals of monitoring, which discourages malicious behavior before it occurs, classifying them as deterrent controls. Surveillance cameras continuously monitor and record activities, providing evidence and real-time awareness without stopping the action itself, which defines detective controls. Together, they align perfectly with options B and D.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Preventive controls actively block or halt unauthorized actions, such as locked doors or access badges, which neither signs nor cameras do. Directive controls enforce policies through rules, training, or legal mandates, not physical signage alone. Corrective controls remediate issues after detection, like backups or patching, which are unrelated to these physical measures.
Community Comment Notes
Multiple high-voted comments confirm BD, explicitly mapping signs to deterrence and cameras to detection. Users frequently note that while some may debate whether signs prevent incidents, CompTIA strictly categorizes them as deterrent due to their psychological impact. One contributor emphasized that “detect and deter” is a standard pairing for this exact scenario in Security+ exams.
Official Reference
https://www.nist.gov/publications/security-controls-information-systems-sp-800-53-revision-5
This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.
Exam Strategy
Focus on the primary purpose of each control type: does it stop the action, discourage it, catch it happening, fix it afterward, or mandate compliance? Always match the tool’s actual function to the exam’s strict definitions rather than real-world operational overlap.
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer BD. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Discussion 4 contributions
Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.
From public community threads 4
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fab34 👍 3Deterrent = Signs Detecitve = Cameras
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dC_Furious 👍 2B - Detterent - Signs D - Detective - Cameras i don't understand why it woul,d be A, defo false
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9ef4a35 👍 2The answer is BD. Deterrent and Detective
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74cd09c 👍 3detect and deter - BD
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