What is the purpose of a sandbox in cybersecurity?

The purpose of a sandbox in cybersecurity primarily revolves around the analysis of malware and other potentially harmful software in a controlled environment. This isolation allows security professionals to safely execute and interact with suspicious programs without putting the rest of the system at risk. Analyzing malware within a sandbox enables researchers to observe its behavior and determine its functionality, ultimately aiding in the development of detection and remediation strategies.

In contrast, the other options describe functions that are not representative of a sandbox's main purpose. For instance, while isolating the operating system from direct user access does enhance security, it is more aligned with operating system design rather than the specific purpose of a sandbox. Similarly, enabling direct access to operating system resources contradicts the primary function of a sandbox as it is intended to restrict access to mitigate potential threats. Lastly, while preventing data loss during system failures is a crucial aspect of disaster recovery and system design, it does not pertain to the isolation and safe analysis of malware, which is the primary objective of utilizing a sandbox.