What function does Virtual Patching perform in Intrusion Prevention?

Virtual Patching plays a crucial role in Intrusion Prevention by addressing vulnerabilities in applications or systems that have not yet been patched. When a patch is not available or cannot be applied immediately, Virtual Patching acts as a temporary measure by inspecting network traffic and identifying attempts to exploit known vulnerabilities.

By dropping traffic that exploits these unpatched vulnerabilities, Virtual Patching provides a security measure that safeguards systems from attacks without the need for immediate updates or changes to the applications themselves. This capability is essential in maintaining security posture during the window of vulnerability, ensuring that even without the latest patches, systems remain protected from specific exploits.

The other options do not accurately capture the primary function of Virtual Patching. While detecting suspicious network activity is important, that describes a broader aspect of Intrusion Prevention systems rather than the specific focus on unpatched vulnerabilities. Blocking all incoming traffic is an overly broad and ineffective approach that would impede legitimate traffic. Enhancing application performance does not fall under the purview of Virtual Patching, as its main goal is security rather than optimization.