What benefit does real-time monitoring provide in an IDS?

Real-time monitoring in an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is crucial because it enables immediate threat detection and response, which is essential for maintaining the security of a network. When threats are detected in real-time, security teams can take prompt action to mitigate potential damage. This capability is especially vital in today’s cyber landscape, where threats can evolve rapidly, and any delay in response can lead to significant consequences, including data breaches or system compromises.

Immediate threat detection allows organizations to identify malicious activities as they occur, enabling a quick initiation of incident response protocols. This proactive approach helps to limit the impact of an intrusion and can prevent an attack from escalating. Furthermore, real-time monitoring facilitates continuous visibility into network traffic and system operations, making it easier to identify anomalies and suspicious behavior that could indicate malicious intent.

While the other options address important aspects of cybersecurity management, such as operational costs, configurations, and compliance, they do not directly capture the core benefit of real-time monitoring in relation to identifying and responding to threats as they happen.