Intrusion Prevention System

An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a Network Security solution that monitors and analyses network traffic to detect and prevent identified threats in real-time. Unlike an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which only alerts about potential threats, an IPS actively blocks, modifies, or mitigates malicious traffic and Exploits, enhancing an organisation's defence against cyber threats.

An IPS operates by analysing network packets for known patterns of attacks, using techniques like signature-based detection, anomaly detection, and behavioural analysis. If a threat is detected, the IPS can take immediate action, such as dropping malicious packets, blocking traffic from an offending IP address, or alerting administrators to the threat. IPS devices are typically deployed inline within the network, allowing them to inspect all incoming and outgoing traffic.

The purpose of an IPS is to provide proactive protection against known and emerging threats by identifying and mitigating attacks before they can compromise systems. IPS solutions play a critical role in Network Security by stopping Malware, denial-of-service attacks, and other threats in real-time, reducing the risk of Data Breaches and system downtime.

IPS solutions work by comparing network traffic to known threat signatures, monitoring for unusual or suspicious activity, and applying security rules to block or mitigate threats. They can integrate with Threat Intelligence feeds to update their databases and respond to emerging threats. An IPS may also work in conjunction with Firewalls, SIEM systems, and other security tools to provide comprehensive protection.

Examples of IPS use include blocking traffic associated with known Exploits, mitigating distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks by identifying and blocking malicious traffic patterns, and preventing unauthorised access attempts to network resources. Common IPS solutions include Cisco Firepower, Snort, and Palo Alto Networks’ Threat Prevention.

Challenges associated with IPS include the potential for false positives, which can disrupt legitimate traffic, and performance impacts when processing large volumes of network data. Effective tuning, regular updates, and monitoring are essential to maximise the efficacy of an IPS. Organisations must also ensure that their IPS rules and threat databases are up-to-date to respond to evolving threats.