IDS monitors network traffic, system file changes, and more for signs of potential threats. Then, it alerts security personnel to the activity. A knowledge-based IDS will compare incoming data to a database of attack signatures or patterns. It will also look for byte sequences that match known malware instructions. An IDS will only raise an alert, leaving the response to a human analyst or other technology. An IPS will work to prevent the attack itself.
What is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?
While IDS and IPS are valuable tools to protect networks from attacks, many companies are avoiding IDS solutions in favor of IPS solutions. This is because IPS can stop threats from occurring in real-time, while IDS alerts the administrator to a threat and leaves them to remediate the issue themselves. However, looking at it deeply, between IDS vs IPS which is better? IDS and IPS are designed to monitor network traffic, activity, and devices and alert when an incident occurs. They can also use machine learning to detect patterns and identify threats in real-time. An IDS is a network security solution that monitors threats via various hardware- or software-based sensors. It then compares network traffic against a known database of cyber attack signatures and a model of normal behavior. It can detect various attacks, such as malware and brute force. It can also identify the type of attack and even who is responsible for it. IDSes are prone to false alarms, called false positives, but they’re more valuable than false negatives. False positives can alert teams of a potential threat before damage is done, while false negatives can mean that attackers can steal or modify data without being caught. To help reduce false alarms, IDSes are often configured only to flag suspicious activity. Then, IT teams can use their expertise to evaluate the risk and decide whether or not to act on the alert. Besides detecting anomalous activity, IDSes are often used to gather information about external hosts. They collect data on ports, protocols, bandwidth, and IP attributes and compare them to a list of known bad hosts. Then, they can block communications with the host on the network if it’s deemed malicious.
What is an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?
Unlike an IDS solution, which only detects a threat and alerts IT personnel, the IPS takes action to prevent an attack. It can take several forms, including blocking a particular process, user, or connection, modifying an existing packet to redirect it elsewhere, or simply dropping it altogether. An IPS is deployed as a physical or virtual appliance at the enterprise network perimeter along with an IDS and other security solutions. These devices process all traffic entering and leaving the enterprise network as it passes through to ensure that no potential exploits escape. As with an IDS, a good IPS will need regular signature updates to stay ahead of evolving threats. Like an IDS, the IPS must also be configured carefully to reduce false positives and other operational issues that can unnecessarily slow down the network. This will require a high degree of expertise often unavailable in an organization, so that a specialized service provider may be required for this work. An IPS is often included as part of the next-generation firewall solution, but it can be a stand-alone solution or integrated into other security appliances. An IPS can help meet compliance requirements, provide valuable auditing data, and reduce the workload for other security measures by filtering out harmful traffic.
How do IDS and IPS work?
IDS and IPS act as proactive cybersecurity solutions, monitoring networks for malicious activity. Once a threat is detected, both systems alert the appropriate human security team and log the discovery to review it later. IDS and IPS can also learn to spot suspicious behaviors, helping them minimize false positives. A signature-based IDS system looks at the fingerprint of a known attack and alerts users when network activity matches or resembles the attack. This approach is practical, but it is limited by the time lag between an attacker developing new malware and adding it to the signature database.
Additionally, attacks coordinated between multiple attackers and using various techniques to mask their tracks can make detecting them difficult for an IDS. An IPS takes action upon detection of a cyber threat by blocking or allowing the traffic at the point where the internal network meets the internet. It can also take a more active role by stopping the flow of packets, which can prevent the transmission of ransomware or other malicious threats that have already made it past a business’s firewall. An IPS can also enforce business policies at the enterprise network level and block activities not in line with company guidelines, such as remote work.
Which is better for my business?
An IPS is a more proactive solution because it can take the necessary actions to stop attacks and prevent damage before they occur. This makes it more effective than an IDS, which alerts you to the threat and leaves it to your IT department. Typically placed behind the firewall, an IPS can block traffic that does not meet its rules. This could be a signature-based block, which looks for patterns of known attacks, or an anomaly-based approach that compares predetermined definitions of normal behavior to identify anomalies. An IPS can also use stateful protocol analysis to examine the behavior of packets at the network layer. IPS solutions can be configured to respond automatically to detected threats. This can include shutting down a compromised server, disconnecting the attacker from the network, or changing router, firewall, and server settings to prevent attacks in the future. Depending on the specific solution, it can also be configured to log all activity and send reports to a security information and event management (SIEM) tool. This can provide forensic data about the attack and allow IT teams to update their policies accordingly.
