Detection

Detection: The capability to identify suspicious activity, attacks, or policy violations in time. Effectiveness depends on reliable data, defined ownership, measurable criteria, and regular tuning.

How it works and where it fits

Detection connects data sources to detection or assessment logic. Raw records become security-relevant only when timing, identity, system context, and expected behavior are considered. Rules, correlations, statistical models, and analyst decisions may work together; no single method reliably covers every attack pattern.

Practical security relevance

Operational quality is reflected in coverage, data completeness, detection time, and false-alert workload. Data sources need owners, time synchronization, retention, and quality controls. Detections should be tested, versioned, and improved using real incidents. Every meaningful alert also requires triage guidance, escalation, and possible response actions.

Related concepts

• PreventionPreventionMeasures intended to stop security incidents or attacks before they occur.: Measures intended to stop security incidents or attacks before they occur.
• Detection EngineeringDetection EngineeringSystematic development, testing, and maintenance of rules for attack detection.: Systematic development, testing, and maintenance of rules for attack detection.
• MonitoringMonitoringThe continuous observation of systems, identities, networks, and controls for relevant changes.: The continuous observation of systems, identities, networks, and controls for relevant changes.
• Security AlertSecurity AlertA notification that a rule, model, or control has identified potentially relevant activity.: A notification that a rule, model, or control has identified potentially relevant activity.