The Future Of Security Tech Is Now

Posted by Nurul Islam on March 1st, 2019

What is an IPS?

An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a series of actions taken to protect internal as well as external networks from suspicious internet activity. IPS is similar to IDS or Internal Detection System in that it detects and monitors network traffic. What makes IPS different from a firewall is that it does its job based on content, in contrast to IP addresses. When IPS security systems detect an intruder, it will take action very quickly, since attackers can do damage almost immediately after entry. In this scenario, the IPS will drop the malicious packet and will not let future packets from that particular port or IP address, gain access.

The most common attacks IPS will prevent are:

•    Viruses

•    Worms

•    Denial of Service

•    Distributed denial of service

•    Exploits

Even though IPS is an excellent security system, there are some fundamental things that need to be understood about how they work. The first thing is that IPS will do its job based on how it is configured and when the last update was. In order to work well, IPS needs to be updated on the latest signatures that may cause harm. Firewall and router manufacturers are constantly updating their signature information, but if a new signature that IPS doesn’t know about comes along, then it will not stop it.

The Types of IPS and their Properties

Intrusion prevention systems use both software and hardware to get the job done. When a packet comes into the network, it will use the available signature data and keep an eye on the packet for any suspicious activities. Depending on where it is located IPS comes in two different types; network IPS and host IPS. The following is a brief breakdown regarding how IPS operates in these two scenarios.

Host IPS Characteristics

The IPS is designed for hosts, was one of the first in the industry. They were designed to protect a single user or computer. It worked by gathering information from the host such as files, log files, and other resources, and then analyze it to see if it is safe.

For networks, matters get more complicated, since its job will be to protect network segments and zones. IPS will use sniffers to capture network traffic and look for any patterns that may give away any suspicious behavior of the packets. The network device used for this is configured in promiscuous mode. Which means IPS will analyze any packet, regardless, whether they are addressed to a specific computer. For larger networks, the key is to configure IPS properly. This is because improperly configured IPS systems can slow down network traffic. While monitoring traffic on a network, IPS will do it in real time, giving, you, the administrator real-time data.

IPS not only work on the TCP/IP layer but all the way up to the application layer. When it comes to dealing with outside networks such as WAN and public servers, the trick is to locate the IPS at the same place as the firewall. In fact, most IPSs is located directly behind the firewall. This way, whatever the firewall missed, the IPS will pick up. Since the two operate on different methods, pairing the IPS with the firewall is a complementary solution.

Why You need IPS Security on Your Side

We live in an age where stories of data breaches and internet security are a dime a dozen. Not a single day seems to pass by without the media talking about some sort of Internet attack. The truth is, hackers are constantly devising new ways to intrude into networks and computers. If you run a business where security is the top priority, then you cannot be too careful regarding cybersecurity. An IPS adds one more layer of protection. It is ultimately there to pick up problems that other security systems may have not noticed.