Why is regularly monitoring user behavior important?

Regularly monitoring user behavior is important primarily because it aids in identifying unusual patterns that could indicate potential security threats or breaches. By analyzing how users typically interact with systems and data, organizations can establish a baseline of normal behavior. When deviations from this norm occur—such as accessing sensitive data at unusual hours, unauthorized data transfers, or abnormal login locations—these anomalies can serve as early warning signs of malicious activities, insider threats, or compromised accounts.

Being proactive in monitoring user behavior not only enhances security but also helps in responding quickly to incidents, minimizing damage and potential data loss. Identifying trends over time can also contribute to refining security policies, access controls, and overall incident response strategies.

While compliance with HR regulations, storage capacity, and training resources may play a role in an organization's overall strategy, they do not directly relate to the critical need for recognizing and reacting to anomalies in user behavior to maintain security posture.