Which Type of Controls Help Uncover New Potential Threats? A Complete Guide

In today’s evolving cybersecurity landscape, uncovering new potential threats is more crucial than ever. Security professionals must rely on a wide array of controls to detect vulnerabilities before they become catastrophic. If you’ve ever asked, “Which type of controls help uncover new potential threats?”, then this detailed guide by DumpsQueen is for you.

Understanding the types of security controls—and how they proactively work—can greatly enhance your ability to protect systems, data, and infrastructure from modern attacks. In this article, we’ll break down different types of security controls, focus on those that uncover new threats, and guide you through examples, use cases, and best practices.

Understanding Security Controls: A Quick Overview

Security controls are safeguards or countermeasures to detect, prevent, reduce, or correct security risks. They can be categorized into:

• Preventive Controls – Stop threats before they occur.
• Detective Controls – Identify threats and violations after they've occurred.
• Corrective Controls – Minimize damage and recover from threats.
• Compensating Controls – Alternative measures used when standard controls can't be implemented.
• Deterrent Controls – Discourage actions that could pose a threat.

Each of these plays a role in cybersecurity, but when it comes to identifying new or emerging threats, not all are equally effective.

So, Which Type of Controls Help Uncover New Potential Threats?

The direct answer: Detective Controls.

Detective controls are essential for identifying suspicious behaviors, anomalies, and unknown threats. They don’t prevent the event from occurring but instead monitor systems to reveal activities that may indicate a compromise or vulnerability.

These controls are often driven by real-time monitoring, advanced analytics, and machine learning. They help organizations stay ahead of attackers by uncovering:

• Zero-day exploits
• Anomalous user behavior
• Suspicious network traffic
• Internal misuse or privilege escalation

Types of Detective Controls That Help Uncover New Threats

a) Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

An IDS monitors network traffic for patterns that match known attack signatures. It can be host-based (HIDS) or network-based (NIDS), and it alerts when a threat is detected.

b) Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

SIEM platforms collect logs from various sources and correlate events in real time to detect unusual behavior, potential breaches, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).

c) User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)

UEBA systems use machine learning to establish normal behavior baselines and detect anomalies that deviate from expected activity.

d) Threat Hunting

Proactive threat hunting involves analysts using tools and intelligence to actively search for threats that may have evaded traditional defenses.

e) Penetration Testing

Although often preventive, pen testing can uncover new vulnerabilities that traditional tools might miss.

Difference Between Preventive and Detective Controls

It’s important to use both types in tandem. While preventive controls are critical for defense, detective controls are essential for visibility into your environment.

Why Are Detective Controls Vital for Uncovering New Threats?

Here’s why detective controls are considered a backbone for identifying unknown risks:

• They don’t rely solely on known signatures
  This allows them to discover zero-day exploits and polymorphic malware.
• Machine learning enables adaptive learning
  These controls evolve over time, learning from new data inputs.
• They provide real-time threat intelligence
  This allows organizations to respond faster and minimize impact.

Best Practices to Implement Detective Controls Effectively

a) Integrate Controls with Automation

Use tools like SIEM integrated with SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) to automate threat detection and response.

b) Regularly Update Signatures and Baselines

Keep your IDS and UEBA systems updated to detect the latest threats effectively.

c) Train Analysts for Threat Hunting

Human expertise combined with AI can uncover deeply hidden threats through proactive searching.

d) Combine with Threat Intelligence Feeds

Ingest global threat feeds to add external context to internal detections.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Zero-Day Malware

A company discovers unusual activity through their SIEM. UEBA indicates a user downloading large amounts of data at an odd hour. Upon investigation, it’s revealed a zero-day exploit was in play—uncovered thanks to detective controls.

Example 2: Internal Threat

A contractor attempts to exfiltrate sensitive data. Anomaly detection flags their unusual access pattern, stopping the breach before data is lost.

Complementary Controls That Enhance Threat Discovery

Detective controls work best when supported by:

• Preventive Controls – Like firewalls and endpoint security.
• Corrective Controls – To neutralize threats after detection.
• Auditing Controls – For ensuring compliance and integrity.

Combining these ensures a multi-layered defense strategy.

Certification Exam Angle (For DumpsQueen Users)

If you're preparing for certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH, understanding which type of controls help uncover new potential threats is often tested. Here's how it may appear on the exam:

DumpsQueen Final Tip

At DumpsQueen, we recommend not just studying these terms but understanding their real-world application. Our updated dumps and practice questions often feature real-life scenarios to prepare you better for your IT exams.

Want to learn more? Explore our premium content for certifications like:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Microsoft and Cisco Security Tracks

Conclusion

In the age of evolving cyber threats, being reactive is no longer enough. To stay ahead, organizations must deploy the right detective controls that can uncover new potential threats—even those that haven’t yet been defined. Whether you’re an IT student, a professional, or prepping for a certification exam through DumpsQueen, mastering these concepts is crucial.

So, the next time you're asked "Which type of controls help uncover new potential threats?", you’ll confidently answer: Detective controls.

Sample MCQs (Multiple-Choice Questions)

Question 1:
Which type of control is primarily used to uncover new, previously unknown threats?
A. Preventive
B. Detective
C. Corrective
D. Compensating
Correct Answer: B. Detective

Question 2:
An organization uses a system that analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies. What type of control is this?
A. Deterrent
B. Preventive
C. Detective
D. Corrective
Correct Answer: C. Detective

Question 3:
Which of the following is NOT typically a detective control?
A. Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
B. Firewall
C. SIEM
D. UEBA
Correct Answer: B. Firewall

Question 4:
Which tool provides centralized log collection and event correlation to identify new threats?
A. VPN
B. IDS
C. SIEM
D. Antivirus
Correct Answer: C. SIEM

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