During a routine security check, a security specialist notices an alert indicating repeated authentication failures followed by a system access event. When examining the system's security logs to assess the situation, which pattern would most likely suggest a compromise?
Repeated credential validation errors immediately followed by an entry clearance recorded from a single identifier
Routine sign-ins at regular intervals from known network addresses associated with automated maintenance tasks
Regular status updates confirming that the security mechanisms are fully operational
Continuous internal traffic to the network gateway as part of normal activity monitoring