Active Defense refers to proactive cybersecurity strategies aimed at detecting, disrupting, and countering cyber threats before they can cause harm. Unlike traditional, passive security measures that focus on blocking attacks, active defense involves actively seeking out threats, monitoring network activity, and sometimes using controlled, limited offensive actions to neutralize attackers. These measures can include deception technologies, threat hunting, and rapid incident response to reduce risk and minimize damage. Active defense is designed to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats by engaging with them directly rather than simply defending against them.