Western Governors University (WGU) ITAS2140 D431 Digital Forensics in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

The definition of a system that monitors network traffic for suspicious activity aligns perfectly with an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). An IDS is designed to analyze traffic patterns and identify potential threats such as unauthorized access attempts, malware, or abnormal behavior that could indicate a cyberattack. It operates by inspecting both incoming and outgoing network packets, establishing a baseline for normal activity, and generating alerts when deviations from this baseline occur.

The purpose of an IDS is critical in cybersecurity, as it helps organizations detect and respond to incidents in a timely manner, enhancing their ability to protect sensitive data and maintain network integrity. Such systems can be configured to work in real-time, providing continuous monitoring and reporting to security teams.

In comparison, LILO and GRUB are both boot loaders used to load operating systems, while a scrubber generally refers to a device or program used to clean up or sanitize data, which does not relate directly to the monitoring of network traffic. These distinctions clarify why an IDS is the correct answer in this context.