What is a primary advantage of using compensating controls?

Using compensating controls primarily serves as an alternative solution when primary controls fail, which is crucial in maintaining the security posture of an organization. These controls take effect to address situations where original security measures may be inadequate, unfeasible, or temporarily unavailable. For instance, if a company relies on a particular access control system that becomes compromised or fails, compensating controls—such as increased monitoring or additional verification processes—can be implemented to mitigate risk and protect sensitive data.

This flexibility is invaluable because it ensures that security measures are adaptive and can provide ongoing protection without significant downtime or risk exposure, thereby maintaining a robust security framework. By being aware of compensating controls, organizations can continue to manage vulnerabilities even when primary safeguards aren't operational.