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Cybersecurity has long since progressed from being only a matter for IT to being a matter for everyone in business. Even so, people outside of IT may still feel confused about how cybersecurity actually works.
A quick search on a key term (e.g. “IDS meaning”) may help people to follow along in presentations. If, however, you want to be able to make respectable contributions, you need a better level of understanding. With that in mind, here is a more in-depth answer to the question “What is IDS (meaning)?”.
Possibly the reason why “IDS meaning” is a common search term is that people get confused between IDS and IPS. Here is the distinction between them in brief.
IDS meaning – Intrusion detection system
IPS meaning – Intrusion prevention system
The key distinction between IDS and IPS is that IDS is essentially a passive system. If it detects suspicious activity, it raises an alert but takes no action. An IPS by contrast will take certain defensive measures without direct human instruction.
A deeper look at the question “What is IDS (meaning)?” would need to cover the fact that IDS come in different types. The different types of IDS can be used separately or in combination with each other. Here is a quick overview of the four main types of IDS.
Network-based IDS (NIDS): The role of a NIDS is to monitor network traffic for unusual patterns that could indicate concerning behavior. For this reason a NIDS will typically focus on strategic points such as routers or switches. NIDS are typically used for large-scale monitoring and provide a holistic overview of network threats. The aim of deploying a NIDS is to stop threats before they reach the internal network.
Host-based IDS: The role of a HIDS is to provide tailored protection for individual hosts. HIDS are therefore deployed on individual devices such as servers or endpoints. HIDS plays a pivotal role in identifying and responding to threats that may be specific to a particular device, contributing to a robust and comprehensive security posture for organizations.
Wireless IDS: Wireless IDS (WIDS): As the name suggests a WIDS is specifically designed to monitor wireless networks for potential intrusions. By providing a targeted defense against wireless-specific threats, WIDS contributes significantly to the overall resilience of an organization’s network infrastructure in an increasingly interconnected and wireless-dependent IT landscape.
Network Behavior Analysis (NBA) IDS: NBA IDS focuses on monitoring and analyzing the behavioral patterns of network traffic, identifying anomalies that might indicate potential security threats. Unlike traditional signature-based methods, NBA IDS doesn’t rely on predefined attack signatures; instead, it establishes a baseline of normal behavior and raises alerts when deviations occur. This proactive approach makes NBA IDS effective against novel or sophisticated attacks that might evade conventional detection systems.
The job of an IDS is essentially to monitor the flow of network traffic and alert if the volume and/or nature of this traffic deviates from expected behavior. An IPS can determine the volume of traffic by determining how many packets are sent per second. It can determine the nature of the traffic by analyzing the packet headers.
In the initial period (often called the training period), the IDS will generally have to rely on benchmarking criteria set by systems administrators. Over time, however, it will develop an understanding of standard network traffic. This will allow it to pick up deviations with less human guidance.
Monitoring the volume of network traffic is straightforward. Analyzing its contents, by contrast, is more complicated. IDSs employ three main detection techniques to confirm the nature of network traffic. These are:
Signature-based detection: Matches patterns against known signatures of malicious activities.
Anomaly-based detection: Identifies deviations from established baseline behaviors.
Heuristic-based detection: Applies intelligent algorithms to analyze patterns indicative of potential threats.
When a potential threat is detected the IDS triggers an alert. This may generate a response from a human or another security tool. In general, humans would only provide an immediate response to a severe threat. Minor threats would typically be dealt with by other security tools. These would usually follow pre-defined rules to implement basic defense measures such as blocking malicious IP addresses or isolating compromised systems.
If you are considering implementing an IDS, there are three main points you need to consider.
Strategic placement within the network: Positioning the IDS strategically at critical junctures, like routers and switches, enhances its efficacy. This ensures comprehensive coverage and timely detection of potential threats.
Integration with existing security infrastructure: Integrating the IDS with security tools such as firewalls and antivirus systems creates the most robust shield against cyber threats.
Ongoing updates and optimization: At a minimum, you will need to ensure that the IDS is promptly updated per the vendor’s instructions. Ideally, you will continually assess the performance of your IDS and fine-tune it so that it always delivers its best performance.
A Quick Guide To Ids Vs Ips
What Is Ips
Understanding Nids Network Intrusion Detection Systems
What Is An IDS Meaning
How Using An Ips Can Boost Your Cybersecurity
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