What does “compensating controls” mean?

The term "compensating controls" refers to alternative security measures that are put in place when primary security controls may not be feasible due to various constraints such as cost, implementation complexity, or technical limitations. These controls are designed to provide a similar level of protection as the primary controls and help mitigate risks effectively until the ideal controls can be implemented.

For example, if a traditional security measure like a firewall cannot be deployed in a specific environment due to technical issues, compensating controls such as enhanced monitoring or additional authentication may be implemented to address the same security concern. The key aspect of compensating controls is that they are not simply secondary or backup measures but rather serve the important function of reducing risk in the absence of the preferred controls.

The other options do not accurately describe compensating controls:

• Redundant systems for data recovery typically focus on ensuring data availability rather than providing alternative risk mitigation strategies.

• Secondary controls that are not directly related to the main risks do not satisfy the requirement of being alternatives to primary controls and may not effectively mitigate the identified risks.

• Controls implemented solely for compliance purposes may not provide substantial risk mitigation and often do not address specific security needs directly, thus failing to serve the compensating role effectively.

Understanding the importance of compensating