Which of the following is a characteristic of an email alert in Splunk?

An email alert in Splunk is characterized by its ability to be configured to trigger on specific conditions. This allows users to define the exact criteria that, when met, lead to the generation and sending of an alert email. Users can set thresholds, define search queries, and establish what constitutes a significant event that warrants notification. This feature is particularly beneficial for monitoring important incidents or anomalies in the data, enabling proactive responses.

The other characteristics mentioned do not accurately represent the nature of email alerts in Splunk. For instance, the system is built for automation, meaning that it does not require manual intervention to send an alert once the conditions are set. Additionally, email alerts can be configured to operate in both real-time and scheduled modes, rather than being limited to just real-time operation. Lastly, while Splunk can generate reports, that is not a defining characteristic of an email alert specifically, as the primary function of an email alert is to notify users rather than to provide print-ready documents.