Which of the following technologies is typically used to monitor network traffic and detect intrusions?

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are specifically designed to monitor network traffic and identify potential security breaches or intrusions in real-time. IDS work by analyzing traffic patterns and comparing them against known threat signatures or heuristics. When suspicious activity is detected, the system triggers alerts to notify administrators or takes proactive measures to mitigate the threat.

This technology is distinctive because it focuses on the detection of threats already occurring rather than prevention. While firewalls are designed to block unauthorized access and antivirus software protects against malware, they do not provide the same level of traffic monitoring and anomaly detection as IDS. Encryption tools play a different role altogether, primarily focusing on protecting data confidentiality and integrity during transmission. Therefore, the primary function of an IDS aligns perfectly with the need to monitor and detect intrusions in network traffic.