By IT Brew Staff
less than 3 min read
Definition:
IT professionals rely on intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to detect and stop malicious activity on the network, including malware and unauthorized access to sensitive data. IDS monitors the network and sends alerts about new threats; IPS takes active measures against those threats, including blocking malicious traffic and content, updating firewall settings, and preventing unauthorized users from stealing data.
When used correctly, IDS and IPS can help mitigate everything from zero-day vulnerabilities to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, all while reducing the organization’s attack surface. Real-time monitoring, in conjunction with other cybersecurity best practices, can boost an IT team’s threat detection and incident response.
However, IDS and IPS have their downsides, too. For example, if an IT pro misconfigures their organization’s IPS (for example, making the detection rules too stringent), it can lead to false positives for malicious activity, leading to disruptions. By blocking traffic, IPS may also have a negative impact on network performance. As a result, IT teams must carefully deploy and manage IDS and IPS to provide optimal cybersecurity and network performance.
