What triggers a patient 0 alert?

A patient 0 alert is specifically associated with the detection of a potential threat that has entered the network, particularly when an action leads to the download of a file that is then identified as malicious. This situation reflects a critical point of entry for malware or other threats within an environment, marking the moment where a system may become compromised.

In this context, the action of downloading a file that is later determined to be harmful signifies the start of a security incident, thus warranting a patient 0 alert. This alert focuses on the initial point at which a threat actor may gain a foothold within a network, allowing for the identification and response to the threat before it can spread further.

Other scenarios presented, such as unauthorized file access, accessing a restricted network, or opening an infected application, may indicate security issues or warnings, but they do not specifically trigger the patient 0 alert, which is primarily concerned with tracking the first instance of a malware download or infection.