Kontrollåtgärder

Kontrollåtgärder, in English known as control measures, are actions taken to manage and reduce risks. They are a fundamental part of risk management and security frameworks across various fields, including IT security, occupational health and safety, and environmental management. The primary goal of control measures is to mitigate the likelihood or impact of identified risks to an acceptable level.

The selection and implementation of control measures depend heavily on the nature of the risk, the potential consequences, and the resources available. They can be categorized in several ways. For example, they can be preventive, detective, corrective, or deterrent. Preventive measures aim to stop an undesirable event from happening in the first place, such as installing a firewall to prevent unauthorized access. Detective measures are designed to identify when an event has occurred, like security cameras monitoring an area. Corrective measures are implemented to rectify a problem after it has occurred, such as restoring data from backups. Deterrent measures are intended to discourage individuals from taking certain actions, like displaying warning signs.

Control measures can also be classified as physical, technical, or administrative. Physical controls include tangible barriers like locks or fences. Technical controls involve technological solutions, such as encryption or antivirus software. Administrative controls are policies, procedures, and guidelines that dictate behavior, such as security awareness training or access control policies. The effectiveness of control measures is often evaluated through audits, reviews, and testing to ensure they are functioning as intended and remain appropriate for the evolving risk landscape.