Every security device and control eventually fails: power is lost, software crashes, a sensor breaks or a license expires. The failure mode decides what happens then. A fail-open (fail-safe in some contexts) device allows traffic or access when it fails, keeping things working but without protection. A fail-closed (fail-secure) device blocks traffic or access when it fails, keeping things protected but stopping legitimate use. Choosing between them is a deliberate trade-off between availability and security, and Security+ tests whether you can make that choice for a given scenario.
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