What is the goal of a honeypot system?

The goal of a honeypot system is primarily to gather intelligence on attacker methods. A honeypot is a security mechanism that involves setting up a decoy environment, often resembling a real system, that is intentionally designed to be vulnerable and lure attackers. By monitoring the activities that occur within this controlled environment, organizations can gain valuable insights into attack patterns, techniques, and tools used by cybercriminals. This information can then be leveraged to improve security posture by informing defensive strategies and enhancing intrusion detection systems.

In contrast, while the other options may address various aspects of network security or performance optimization, they do not define the specific purpose of a honeypot. A honeypot is not aimed at increasing system efficiency or optimizing network load, nor is it primarily designed to protect against unauthorized access in the same way that other security measures would be employed. Instead, its core objective is to learn from attackers to better understand threats and to build more robust defenses.