What is the goal of implementing security controls?

Implementing security controls primarily aims to mitigate identified risks to an acceptable level. This approach recognizes that while it may be impossible to eliminate all risks completely, effective security controls can reduce the likelihood or impact of incidents that could adversely affect the organization’s operations, assets, or personnel. By focusing on risk mitigation, organizations can prioritize their resources and efforts towards ensuring that any remaining risks are managed in line with their risk tolerance and overall strategic objectives.

The process of risk management in security involves identifying potential threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and determining the potential impacts. Security controls are then designed and implemented to address these vulnerabilities and protect against threats, striking a balance between security and the operational needs of the organization.

This perspective is crucial for organizations, especially within the Department of Defense (DoD) framework, where resources must be judiciously allocated, and total risk elimination is often unrealistic. Therefore, the objective is to achieve a level of risk that the organization finds acceptable, which aligns with broader risk management practices.