Final answer:
The third level of protection in a typical control hierarchy is IT general controls which ensure the proper operation of information systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the levels of protection within a control hierarchy related to business, specifically in the context of Internal Control Systems or the COSO framework. There might be a bit of confusion with the question since it seems to mix elements from International Political Economy (IPE) theory and Information Technology (IT) general controls. However, addressing the IT controls aspect, the third level of protection in a typical control hierarchy is IT general controls. The first level consists of the control environment, which constitutes the company's attitude toward internal controls. The second level includes pervasive control plans, which are broad controls that apply universally across the organization. Then at the third level, we find IT general controls, which are policies and procedures that relate to many applications and support the effective functioning of application controls by helping to ensure the continuous proper operation of information systems.