What system analyzes network traffic against a normal baseline to identify potential threats?

Anomaly-Based systems are designed to analyze network traffic by first establishing what is considered normal behavior within the environment. This baseline is derived from historical data and patterns of activity on the network. Once the baseline is established, the anomaly-based system monitors real-time network traffic and identifies any deviations from this norm, which may indicate potential security threats.

For instance, if a device that typically sends a small amount of data suddenly begins transmitting large volumes of information, this unusual behavior could trigger an alert, signaling a possible security incident such as a data breach or malware activity. This approach is particularly effective in detecting novel or previously unknown threats that do not match existing signatures, making it a critical component of modern security strategies.

While an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) also plays a role in identifying threats, it might focus on signature-based detection instead of relying on behavioral analysis alone. Signature-Based methods depend on known threat patterns and are less effective against new or modified attacks. Network Access Control (NAC) pertains more to regulating device access to the network rather than analyzing traffic patterns for anomalies.