What does DOS stand for in a cybersecurity context?

In the context of cybersecurity, DOS stands for Denial of Service. A Denial of Service attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic. This means the service becomes inaccessible to legitimate users, effectively denying them access.

Understanding the mechanics of a Denial of Service attack is crucial for cybersecurity professionals, as it highlights the importance of implementing protective measures such as rate limiting, firewall rules, and intrusion detection systems to maintain service availability and network integrity.

The other definitions provided do not pertain to widely recognized concepts in the field of cybersecurity, making Denial of Service the relevant and correct interpretation of DOS in this specific context.