What does beaconing traffic indicate in network logs?

Beaconing traffic in network logs typically signifies potential malware activity. This is characterized by regular, repetitive network communications initiated by an infected device to a command-and-control server. Malware often employs beaconing to check in with an external server for instructions, updates, or to exfiltrate data. These patterns are unusual for standard traffic and can denote compromised systems trying to communicate with entities outside the network.

Normal traffic patterns are generally consistent with expected user behavior and networking operations, making them distinct from the irregularity of beaconing. Scheduled maintenance and data backup processes would not have the same characteristics or frequency of communication as beaconing, which is specifically tied to network threats and abnormal activities. Therefore, the identification of beaconing in logs raises an immediate flag for security analysts to investigate further, as it often suggests that an endpoint might be part of a broader malicious campaign.