Honeypot

A honeypot is a decoy system or service built to attract and detect cyber attackers. It acts like bait. Teams use honeypots to improve security because they show how an attacker works, which tools they use, and what they may be trying to achieve. That helps security teams understand threats and respond with clearer controls.

Example

A company sets up a honeypot server that looks like a vulnerable database holding sensitive information. In fact, the database contains fake data and stays isolated from the company’s real network. When an attacker tries to breach the honeypot server, the company logs and monitors each action. This gives the security team useful insight into the attacker’s methods and intent. The team can then use that information to improve defenses and reduce the risk of similar attacks on real systems.