In the world of network security, you’ve probably come across the question of whether to choose an intrusion detection system (IDS) or an intrusion prevention system (IPS).
Both are good for spotting threats, but they work differently. An IDS will only alert you if it finds something suspicious, while an IPS can take action to prevent an attack.
Intrusion Detection System IDS
An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a security tool that monitors your network for suspicious activity that could point to a cyberattack. It also logs the event data and sends an alert to your IT administrator or security staff, letting them know about the threat.
An IDS can use a variety of detection methods. These include signature-based, anomaly-based, and policy-based.
Most IDS systems use these techniques, though the most common type is signature-based. This method looks for specific network traffic patterns that indicate a threat, such as a byte or malicious instruction sequences found in malware.
On the other hand, anomaly-based compares current network traffic to a baseline model of what regular activity should look like. This includes bandwidth consumed, protocols and ports used, and IP addresses that generally communicate with each other.
Anomaly-based IDSs are often more effective at identifying threats than signature-based IDSs, as they are more likely to spot deviations from the baseline. In addition to using this method, some IDS vendors implement machine learning-based detection to spot more suspicious activity.
Intrusion Prevention System IPS
IPS stands for intrusion prevention system and is a type of security system that monitors network traffic, logs events, sends alerts, and blocks potential threats. It works with other security systems and is typically deployed as a standalone appliance or within a consolidated function in next-generation firewalls (NGFW).
An IPS can detect vulnerabilities, exploits, and brute force attacks. They can also prevent Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and other types of malware from reaching critical networks because they analyze packet flows to determine when they’re malicious.
There are many different IPS types, but they all share standard features. Some of these include signature-based detection, anomaly-based detection, and policy-based detection.
These systems detect threats by examining patterns of known exploits, malicious behavior, and attack techniques. They also look for evasive techniques that attackers use to hide their exploits from detection.
When an IPS detects an intrusion, it blocks the threat and notifies the IT administrator. These actions are based on rules and policies that the IT administrator has defined.
IPS technology can also detect attacks that use spoofing to redirect traffic from legitimate servers to attackers. These include Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) spoofing, which creates a fake ARP address for the target computer and causes it to send traffic to the attacker’s system.
Difference Between an IDS and an IPS
Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are essential tools in your network security arsenal. They are designed to monitor traffic and alert IT teams when suspicious activities occur.
IDS and IPS use a database of known threats to identify anomalous traffic. They then compare that information to incoming traffic to determine whether it is malicious.
Unlike a firewall, which only blocks traffic deemed malicious by its ACL rules, an IDS can also send alerts and take action against unauthorized users. An IPS can then block access to a specific source IP address or user account, stopping the unauthorized activity before it can do any damage.
Both IDS vs IPS systems can be helpful in your network security strategy, but they have different capabilities and should be selected based on your needs and broader cybersecurity goals. You must also understand your organization’s data, what assets need protection, and how a new solution will integrate into your more comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
Using behavior-based anomaly detection, these systems can spot new threats that signature-based systems cannot. For example, they can detect unusual behaviors like user activity outside business hours or adding a new device to your network.
How IDS and IPS Work
Regarding network security, an organization’s choice between intrusion detection (IDS) and intrusion prevention (IPS) solutions can be critical in determining whether they are effectively protecting their systems. An effective IDS will monitor all traffic in your network for suspicious activity, alerting IT personnel when it detects an attack.
An IPS will also monitor all traffic in your network for suspicious activity, but it takes proactive action to stop attacks from happening in the first place. For example, an IPS will block any traffic identified as malicious or originating from a known threat.
The most popular type of IDS is signature-based, which relies on a database of known attack signatures to detect threats. This is a good strategy for identifying more established attacks, but it could be more effective at detecting zero-day attacks that have yet to be seen.
On the other hand, anomaly-based IDS uses a model of normal network behavior and will notify an administrator anytime it detects any deviation from that normal behavior. This is an excellent strategy for detecting DDoS attacks, behavioral violations against the policy, and other types of threats.
Depending on the system, an IPS can either be deployed as an end host or as an inline firewall placed behind the router and filters all network traffic coming from and going to your network. A behavior-based IPS might raise false alarms occasionally as harmless anomalies are caught in its filter. Still, it can be fine-tuned to recognize and let through all legitimate traffic.
