What are preventive controls designed to do?

Preventive controls are specifically designed to stop unfavorable events from occurring before they happen. These controls focus on creating measures that mitigate risks and deter potential fraudulent activities or errors. For example, preventive controls may include implementing stringent access controls, conducting regular training on compliance and ethical behavior, and establishing a rigorous approval process for transactions. By proactively addressing vulnerabilities, organizations can significantly reduce the chance of fraud, thereby protecting their assets and reputation.

While identifying past fraud incidents, monitoring employee performance, and documenting organizational processes are important functions within an organization's overall internal control framework, they are more aligned with detective controls and administrative duties rather than the primary purpose of preventive controls. Detective controls aim to uncover issues after they have occurred, monitoring performance ensures employees are working effectively, and documentation helps maintain clarity and consistency but does not inherently prevent negative events.