What is the primary function of honeynets?

The primary function of honeynets is to attract and trap unauthorized users. Honeynets are designed as decoy systems or networks that mimic legitimate services to lure potential attackers. By creating an environment that appears vulnerable, they can draw in malicious actors, allowing security professionals to observe and analyze their behaviors, techniques, and tactics during attacks.

This intelligence-gathering capability is invaluable for understanding how attacks are carried out and for developing more effective security measures. By monitoring the interactions within a honeynet, organizations can gain insights into the types of threats they might face, which can inform their network defense strategies and improve overall security posture.

In contrast, other choices do not align with the primary purpose of honeynets. For example, optimizing network performance is unrelated to their function, nor do honeynets involve updating security protocols or securely storing sensitive data. Instead, their focus is explicitly on detection and analysis of unauthorized access to improve defense mechanisms.