What does a true positive indicate in the context of an IDS?

A true positive in the context of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) signifies that the system successfully identified and alerted to an attack that is indeed happening or has occurred, confirming the legitimacy of the threat. This is critical in maintaining security, as it indicates that the IDS is functioning effectively by recognizing real threats against the network or system.

When an IDS generates a true positive alert, it empowers security teams to respond promptly to the threat, mitigating potential damage and preserving the integrity of the systems in place. This reinforces the importance of having a reliable IDS that can correctly interpret and react to genuine threats in a timely manner.

Other choices describe false negatives or scenarios where the IDS does not detect or alert correctly, which do not represent the concept of a true positive. Thus, the clarity in identifying a legitimate threat makes the second choice the correct one within this context.