Which input type utilizes the HTTP Event Collector (HEC)?

The HTTP Event Collector (HEC) is primarily associated with agent-less inputs. This is because HEC allows for the direct sending of events to Splunk over HTTP or HTTPS from applications or systems that do not require a Splunk forwarder to be installed. This method enables developers and system administrators to push data into Splunk from various sources, including cloud services and web applications, without the need for intermediary agents.

Agent-based inputs, in contrast, typically rely on a Splunk Universal Forwarder or Heavy Forwarder that collects and forwards data to the Splunk indexer. Modular inputs are specialized data inputs created for specific data sources and may or may not involve agents. Network input refers to data captured from network sources, which generally implies some form of agent or integrative application to facilitate that capture.

Given HEC's functionality, it is clear that agent-less input is the only type that aligns with this method of data ingestion, underscoring its flexibility and direct integration capabilities.