(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a honeynet?

1. Capture email traffic

2. Attract attackers for analysis

3. Monitor network performance

4. Encrypt sensitive data

The correct answer is: Attract attackers for analysis

The purpose of a honeynet is to attract attackers for analysis. A honeynet is essentially a network designed to be intentionally vulnerable and set up to mimic a real environment, thus tempting malicious actors to engage with it. By doing this, cybersecurity professionals can observe the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by attackers. This information is vital as it helps security teams develop better defensive strategies, understand emerging threats, and improve overall security posture. Setting up a honeynet allows organizations to collect valuable data regarding intrusion attempts and attacks without jeopardizing actual production systems. It provides insights into the behavior of intruders, which can then be leveraged to enhance security measures and thwart future attacks. This proactive approach to cybersecurity demonstrates how understanding adversaries can significantly strengthen defenses. The other options, while related to cybersecurity in some capacity, do not align with the primary function of a honeynet. For instance, capturing email traffic, monitoring network performance, or encrypting sensitive data are distinct tasks that do not involve luring and analyzing attackers in the way a honeynet is designed to do.