Which control type is aimed at preventing problems before they occur?

Preventive controls are specifically designed to thwart potential security breaches or issues before they happen. Their primary goal is to reduce the risk of threats through proactive measures. This includes implementing security policies, conducting employee training, using firewalls, and establishing access controls—actions that help deter incidents before they can manifest.

In a cybersecurity context, preventive controls are essential for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data. By taking these measures, organizations aim to minimize vulnerabilities and avoid incidents that could lead to data loss or breaches.

Other control types, while important in their own right, serve different purposes. Corrective controls focus on addressing issues after they have occurred to restore systems to a secure state. Detective controls are primarily used to identify or detect security incidents that have already happened, allowing organizations to respond appropriately. Rehabilitative controls tend to focus on recovery from an incident, ensuring that systems are rebuilt or restored to operational status.