Define “normal behavior” in the context of network monitoring.

In the context of network monitoring, "normal behavior" refers to the established patterns of activity that are expected during regular operations of the network. This includes typical user behaviors, application functions, and data flow during daily tasks. Understanding what constitutes normal behavior is essential for network monitoring because it allows systems to differentiate between routine activities and potential threats or anomalies.

By having a clear definition of what normal behavior looks like, organizations can effectively set thresholds and establish baselines for their network activity. This helps in identifying deviations that may signify a security incident, such as unauthorized access attempts, unusual data transfers, or other malicious activities. Monitoring systems rely on this baseline to generate alerts when behavior strays from the norm, ensuring that any potential security threats can be rapidly detected and addressed.