Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Which of the following is an example of network-based data?

1. CSV files

2. Syslog

3. JSON data

4. XML files

The correct answer is: Syslog

Network-based data refers to information transmitted across a network, often capturing events or activities that are relevant to network operations. Syslog is a protocol commonly used for message logging and transmitting log messages across network devices, such as routers, switches, servers, and applications. It is designed to allow these devices to send event notification messages to a central logging server or to each other, making it a clear example of network-based data. In contrast, CSV files, JSON data, and XML files are typically formatted data types used to organize and represent information. While they can be used to store and transmit data over networks, they do not inherently represent network events or logs generated by network devices. These formats are more about data structuring than about the network communication aspect, which is why they are not categorized as network-based data. Therefore, Syslog stands out as a quintessential example of how data is generated and communicated over networks.