Honeypots primarily serve what type of purpose in cybersecurity?

Honeypots are an essential tool in cybersecurity that primarily serve the purpose of threat detection. They are intentionally vulnerable systems or resources that are set up to attract and trap potential attackers. By simulating real systems, honeypots allow security professionals to monitor and analyze attack techniques, methods, and behaviors without putting actual production systems at risk. This information is invaluable for strengthening defenses and understanding emerging threats.

The data gathered from these interactions can reveal how attackers operate, the tools they use, and their targets, which helps organizations to enhance their cybersecurity posture and proactively defend against future attacks. This focus on identifying and understanding threats distinguishes honeypots from other options like data recovery, user authentication, and data encryption, which serve entirely different functions in the realm of cybersecurity.