What is Technical Controls?

Understanding Technical Controls

Security safeguards or countermeasures utilizing hardware firmware or software solutions to protect information systems. Technical controls are technology-based security mechanisms that protect resources through hardware and software solutions. They include access controls authentication mechanisms encryption systems monitoring tools intrusion detection and many other automated mechanisms. Technical controls are a fundamental component of frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 ISO 27001 and various regulatory standards. Organizations implement technical controls through firewalls intrusion detection systems encryption digital certificates strong authentication logging and audit tools security configuration and many other technologies. For example an e-commerce platform might implement technical controls including web application firewalls to filter malicious traffic TLS encryption for all communications database encryption for stored payment data multi-factor authentication for administrative access intrusion detection systems monitoring for attacks and security information event management to correlate security events. Related terms Administrative controls Physical controls Security controls Access control Encryption Authentication Authorization Audit logging Security monitoring.