Zielmaschine

Zielmaschine (literally “target machine”) is a term used in German computing to denote the computer system that is the object of a task, experiment, or operation. It is employed in contexts such as network administration, software testing, and cybersecurity to designate the system that receives input, hosts a service under test, or serves as the focus of an assessment.

In cybersecurity, the Zielmaschine refers to the target system in activities such as penetration testing, red-teaming, malware analysis, or digital forensics exercises. In practice, it is typically isolated within a controlled lab environment and instrumented with monitoring to collect data about its behavior and to assess defensive measures without impacting production networks.

In virtualization and laboratory setups, a Zielmaschine is often realized as a virtual machine or container, which allows for rapid reconfiguration, snapshot-based resets, and safe experimentation. The concept emphasizes separation from other systems to ensure containment and reproducibility of tests or demonstrations.

The term can be used interchangeably with Zielsystem or Zielhost, and in English-language texts it is commonly translated as target host or target system. Related concepts include the attack surface and various defensive or monitoring mechanisms implemented to protect Zielmaschinen during testing or operation.