What is the purpose of a honeypot in cloud security?

A honeypot serves a critical role in cloud security by attracting attackers to a controlled and monitored environment. Its primary purpose is to lure in malicious actors who engage in unauthorized activities, enabling security teams to observe their behaviors and tactics without endangering actual production systems or sensitive data. By engaging with the honeypot, attackers reveal their methods, tools, and objectives, which can provide invaluable insights into potential vulnerabilities and emerging threats in the cloud environment.

This information is vital for enhancing security measures, developing more effective defense strategies, and improving incident response capabilities. Ultimately, the use of honeypots contributes to a deeper understanding of the cybersecurity landscape, helping organizations bolster their overall security posture against real-world attacks.