Why is it important for Anomaly-Based Detection to have a baseline in place?

Anomaly-Based Detection relies heavily on establishing a baseline of what is considered normal behavior within a network or system. This baseline is crucial because it allows the detection system to accurately identify any deviations that may indicate potential security threats or anomalies. By understanding what typical patterns of activity look like, the system can flag unusual behavior that might suggest unauthorized access, malware presence, or other security concerns. Without this baseline, it would be significantly harder to distinguish between benign fluctuations in network activity and genuine potential threats, which could lead to missed alerts or unnecessary false positives. Establishing this baseline is essential for effective monitoring and threat detection.