What is a honeypot in the context of cybersecurity?

In the context of cybersecurity, a honeypot is primarily recognized as a security resource valuable for studying threats and vulnerabilities. This is achieved by creating a decoy system or resource that mimics a legitimate system but is isolated and monitored. Its purpose is to attract attackers, providing security professionals with insights into their tactics, techniques, and procedures.

By analyzing the interactions with a honeypot, organizations can gather intelligence about the methods used by cybercriminals, which can then inform the development of stronger security measures and defenses. This makes honeypots a significant tool for proactive cybersecurity research and threat intelligence, as they help organizations understand emerging threats in a controlled environment without putting actual assets at risk.

In contrast, other options listed do not fully embody the concept of a honeypot. While a deceptive network to trap malware may describe certain characteristics of honeypots, it does not capture the broader value of studying potential threats. A database for storing sensitive information describes a different aspect of cybersecurity altogether, focusing on data storage rather than threat prevention or analysis. A software tool for monitoring internal network traffic pertains to network security monitoring but lacks the specific focus on deception and study that honeypots provide.