Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a type of security software designed to detect and prevent unauthorized access to a computer network or system. It works by monitoring network traffic for signs of malicious activity, such as malware or hacking attempts, and then taking action to block or mitigate these threats from being successful.
There are two main types of Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS): network-based and host-based. Network-based IPS systems are installed on a network device such as a firewall or router, and they monitor all traffic flowing over the network. Host-based IPS systems, on the other hand, are installed on individual computers or servers, and they monitor traffic coming to and going from these devices
.
IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems) systems use various techniques to detect and prevent threats. These can be summarized as follows:
One common technique is signature-based detection, which involves searching for specific activity patterns known to be associated with certain types of threats. For example, an IPS system can be programmed to look for known types of malware or hacking tools used by attackers.
Another technique used by IPS systems is anomaly-based detection, which involves searching for unusual or unexpected activities that could indicate a threat. This can be useful for detecting threats that have no known signature or for evading signature-based detection.
Behavior-based detection is another technique that IPS systems can use. This involves analyzing the behavior of network traffic to identify activity that deviates from normal patterns. For instance, an IPS system can be programmed to detect an unusual increase in traffic to a specific website, which could indicate an attempt to launch a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.
When a threat is detected, an IPS system can take various measures to prevent its success. This may include blocking traffic, quarantining traffic, or alerting the system administrator for manual intervention. Some IPS systems can also be programmed to take automatic actions such as shutting down a specific service or closing a particular port to prevent the spread of the threat.
IPS systems are an important part of any organization's security strategy because they provide an additional layer of protection against a wide range of threats. They are particularly useful for detecting and preventing threats that may not be detected by other security measures such as firewalls or antivirus software. Additionally, IPS systems can help organizations comply with security regulations and industry standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
