What is the primary goal of threat hunting?

The primary goal of threat hunting is to proactively search for hidden threats within an organization's environment. This involves actively looking for signs of compromise that traditional security measures might not detect. Threat hunting goes beyond just monitoring alerts; it requires a deep understanding of the organization's network, its normal behavior, and potential attack vectors. By doing so, security analysts can identify vulnerabilities and threats early, allowing the organization to take action before a potential breach or incident escalates.

This contrasts with other options. Compliance with regulatory standards and monitoring for compliance with data privacy laws primarily focuses on adhering to required guidelines and does not necessarily involve active threat detection. Evaluating employee technical skills is a different area entirely, relating more to personnel management and training, rather than identifying or mitigating threats. Thus, the proactive nature of threat hunting is what fundamentally distinguishes it as a critical practice in cybersecurity.