What is the primary purpose of a honeypot in cybersecurity?

A honeypot is a security resource whose purpose is to be probed, attacked, or compromised in order to gather information about the tactics and methodologies used by attackers. By intentionally creating a vulnerable system or service, cybersecurity professionals can monitor how attackers operate, which tools they use, and what techniques they employ. This intelligence can then be used to strengthen the security posture of the actual systems.

The primary purpose of a honeypot is to attract and analyze attackers, making it a vital tool for understanding emerging threats and improving defense strategies. Adopting insights from the interactions with attackers enables organizations to create stronger security measures against real threats.

Other options do not align with the defining characteristics of a honeypot. For instance, storing sensitive information securely refers to traditional data protection strategies, firewalls prevent unauthorized access at a network level rather than enticing attackers, and real-time threat detection involves actively monitoring systems rather than luring in attackers, which is the opposite function of a honeypot.