One cannot talk about intrusion detection systems (IDS) without also discussing intrusion prevention systems (IPS). These two tools often go hand in hand, and while the most popular intrusion detection systems in cyber security can function as either IDS or IPS depending on configuration, it is still important to know the differences.
What is IPS in cyber security?
Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are cyber security tools used to monitor network traffic and systems for potentially malicious traffic. Using predefined security policies and rule sets, IPS can block malicious traffic, terminate suspicious connections, or otherwise disrupt the attacker's progress. This can involve techniques like packet filtering, which blocks unwanted traffic based on pre-defined rules, or deep packet inspection, which examines the content of packets for malicious payloads. It is important to note that one of the challenges with IPS is the possibility of non-malicious traffic being blocked based on a “false positive”.
How do IPS work?
IPS in cyber security works by actively inspecting traffic (network-based IPS) or device activity (host-based IPS) for suspicious behavior. They work in two main stages: monitoring and enforcement.
During monitoring, the IPS engine analyzes traffic or activity for threats. It uses two main methods: signature-based detection checks activity against a database of known attack signatures, like fingerprints of malicious activity. Anomaly-based detection looks for deviations from normal behavior established through statistical analysis.
If the engine detects something suspicious that aligns with security policies, the IPS takes action. This might involve blocking malicious network traffic at the network edge, abruptly ending suspicious connections, or limiting resources for processes behaving abnormally on a device.
For IPS to be effective, they need up-to-date threat signatures, well-defined baselines for normal activity, and properly configured security policies. Additionally, integration with other security tools like firewalls and SIEM systems can improve overall threat response.
What is an example of an intrusion prevention system?
One of the very best intrusion prevention system examples is Suricata, because it is a fully functioning IPS and IDS solution. Of all the IDS/IPS options, Suricata is by far the most flexible.
Suricata is a free, open-source IDS/IPS cybersecurity tool that acts as both an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). It is used by organizations all around the world to detect cyber threats and monitor networks for suspicious activity.
Suricata’s strength lies in its versatility. When tuned correctly, it is a high-performance tool that can handle large volumes of network traffic and generate vast amounts of network traffic data. It is also extremely flexible, offering deep analysis of various protocols and the ability to customize rule sets to fit your organization’s specific needs. Because it’s an open-source IDS/IPS, Suricata benefits from a large, active community that constantly develops and refines its capabilities.
Put simply, Suricata is a powerful and adaptable tool that provides a robust layer of defense for any organization’s network security strategy.
What is the difference between IPS and IDS in cyber security?
The difference between IPS and IDS in cyber security is that IPS actively blocks threats while IDS simply provides alerts. The best intrusion detection systems can function as both depending on the configuration, but both systems serve a purpose in an organization’s strategy and come with their own unique benefits and challenges.
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS): Intrusion detection system software continuously analyzes network traffic or system activity for suspicious patterns that might indicate an ongoing attack. These patterns can be identified through signature-based detection, which matches traffic against known attack signatures, or anomaly-based detection, which looks for deviations from regular behavior. Upon detecting suspicious activity, an IDS can raise alerts, log events, and provide valuable insights for security personnel to investigate and respond to potential threats.
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): An IPS extends the functionality of IDS by actively taking steps to prevent intrusions. Based on predefined security policies and identified threats, an IPS can block malicious traffic, terminate suspicious connections, or otherwise disrupt the attacker's progress. This can involve techniques like packet filtering, which blocks unwanted traffic based on pre-defined rules, or deep packet inspection, which examines the content of packets for malicious payloads. It is important to note that one of the challenges with IPS is the possibility of non-malicious traffic being blocked based on a “false positive”.
Explore a modern alternative
IDS is undoubtedly a powerful and effective means to detect known threats on your organization’s network. Unfortunately, most IDS deployments are riddled with false positives, provide limited threat detection, and lack sufficient visibility into anomalous activity and subtle attack signals. Traditional IDS vendors have failed to innovate in ways that solve these challenges, leading to inefficient or downright ineffective threat detection.
You need a network security platform that doesn’t generate an endless stream of useless alerts across part of your network, and instead automatically identifies alerts of interest and notifies you of only serious and imminent threats. Your organization deserves response-ready detection with visibility into your entire network regardless of the environment with easy access to all the contextual evidence you need to stop an attack before it can cause damage. Replace your legacy IDS with a modern network detection and response platform that gives you these features and more.
The Stamus Security Platform™ is a network-based threat detection and response solution that eliminates the challenges of legacy IDS while lowering your response time. Stamus Security Platform harnesses the full potential of your network, bringing state-of-the-art threat detection, automated event triage, and unparalleled visibility to the security team.
Book a demo to see if the Stamus Security Platform is right for your organization.
