If you have a firewall installed on your network, then, YES, you should also consider having an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) because it is necessary to close security holes that a firewall might leave unplugged. The IPS is designed to detect and deny access to malicious attackers before they can harm the system. It’s an essential component of next-generation firewalls that provide an additional layer of security.
Wondering why a next-generation firewall is important?
The straight answer is that it comes with many security benefits. With an IPS, you can reduce business risks and add an extra layer of security. You’ll also have better visibility into attacks, allowing for better protection. In addition, increased efficiency allows for the inspection of all traffic for threats, and you’ll need fewer resources to manage vulnerabilities and patches. Overall, having a next-generation firewall with IPS is an excellent way to protect your network from cyber threats and ensure it remains secure.
What exactly is an Intrusion prevention system (IPS)?
It’s a modern network application that can help you monitor your network continuously for any anomalies. With reporting, blocking and dropping capabilities, it can stop cyber attacks before they even happen. An IPS is a crucial component of any enterprise’s security system because it can defend all the edges of your network. By identifying intruding attempts early on, it can help prevent ransomware attacks. So, if you want to protect your network from cyber attacks, an IPS is a mandatory addition.
How does it work?
One of the most critical factors that an IPS must meet is the efficient operation without degrading network performance. Additionally, it needs to respond quickly to threats since exploits can happen in near-real time. Moreover, it should accurately distinguish between legitimate traffic and threats to avoid false positives.
An IPS differs from its predecessor, the Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which only scans traffic and reports on threats. Instead, an IPS analyzes all traffic flows entering the network, typically positioned directly behind the firewall.
When necessary, an IPS takes automated actions such as alerting the administrator, blocking traffic from the source address, dropping malicious packets, resetting connections, and configuring firewalls to prevent future attacks.
Overall, the IPS is an essential tool for maintaining network security and responding to potential threats effectively.
What kind of anomalies?
To defend the network from unauthorized access, there are different methods used by IPS, and here are some of them:
The first method is the Signature-Based approach, which uses predefined signatures or patterns of well-known network hazards. If an attack is launched that matches one of these signatures, the system will automatically react to it.
The second method is the Anomaly-Based approach. This method keeps an eye on the network for any unusual or unexpected activity. If an abnormality is identified, the system immediately disables access to the target host.
The third method is the Policy-Based approach. In this method, administrators must configure security policies based on organizational security policy and network infrastructure. If any behavior violates a security policy, an alert will be triggered and sent to the system administrators.
Overall, the IPS is an effective tool to protect your network from cyber-attacks and keep it secure.
What are the other components of SSE?