What is the purpose of preventive controls in security management?

The purpose of preventive controls in security management is to stop incidents before they happen. These controls are proactive measures designed to thwart potential security breaches or adverse events by addressing vulnerabilities and risks ahead of time. Examples of preventive controls include firewalls, access controls, encryption, and security policies that enforce safe behaviors. The goal is to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate risks, fostering a proactive security posture that prevents threats from materializing.

In contrast, detection controls are focused on identifying and reporting anomalies after they occur, recovery controls come into play following an incident to restore systems and data, and establishing guidelines pertains to creating policies and procedures that support security practices but do not in themselves prevent incidents. Thus, the primary role of preventive controls is to act as a first line of defense in security management.