Which of the following consists of multiple honeypots connected to a tightly controlled and heavily monitored network?

A honeynet is a sophisticated cybersecurity approach that comprises multiple honeypots linked together within a tightly controlled and heavily monitored network. This setup allows organizations to create a controlled environment that simulates a real network, enticing adversaries to attack these decoy systems. By doing this, defenders can carefully observe and analyze malicious activities, gaining valuable insights on attack patterns and techniques used by cybercriminals.

The benefits of using a honeynet include improved threat intelligence, enhanced detection capabilities, and the ability to study the behavior of would-be attackers in a safe environment without compromising actual production systems. This provides a clearer understanding of potential vulnerabilities and helps in preparing better defenses.

In contrast, a honeypot refers to a single decoy system designed to attract attackers, and while it serves a similar purpose, it does not offer the comprehensive monitoring and control of multiple interconnected systems. A simulator typically refers to a training or testing environment and is not inherently focused on detecting malicious activity. Decoy files serve as bait by mimicking typical files that might be found in a network but do not have the structural complexity or monitoring capabilities found in a honeynet.