What do unusual outbound network traffic and geographical irregularities indicate in threat intelligence?

Unusual outbound network traffic and geographical irregularities are strong indicators of potential compromise within a network. When an organization detects traffic that deviates from established baselines, such as users sending unexpected amounts of data to unknown external locations or access attempts from unusual geographical areas, it suggests that there could be malicious activities taking place. These anomalies often imply that an attacker may have gained unauthorized access to the network and is exfiltrating sensitive data or using the network for illicit purposes.

Recognizing these signs is crucial for security teams, as it allows them to investigate further and potentially mitigate breaches before more serious damage occurs.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of cybersecurity. Best practices pertain to the overall framework and procedures an organization should adopt for securing its environment but do not specifically point to immediate threats. Network health issues might indicate performance problems but do not inherently suggest a compromise. User authentication failures could signal issues with login attempts but do not directly point to the broader issue of unusual outbound traffic associated with potential breaches.