What is the primary purpose of the system being tracked by the inventory system mentioned in the scenario?

The primary purpose of the system being tracked by the inventory system is to track the system lifecycle. This involves maintaining accurate records of assets throughout their entire life from acquisition to disposal. By tracking the lifecycle, an organization can effectively manage its IT resources, ensure compliance, evaluate depreciation, and plan for upgrades or replacements as needed. This helps in optimal resource utilization and can contribute to strategic planning and budgeting.

In comparison, recording network traffic focuses on the monitoring of data packets across the network, which aids in understanding network performance and security but does not pertain to asset management. Monitoring user activity is important for security and compliance but is more about observing usage rather than managing the lifecycle of assets. Managing user credentials relates specifically to authentication and access control and does not encompass the broader scope of asset lifecycle tracking. Thus, the aim of tracking the system lifecycle aligns most closely with the purpose of an inventory system.