2021 saw the highest number of recorded data breaches which was 68% higher than the year before. The targets were mainly businesses that protected sensitive personal information.
If your company keeps employee personal information or customer data, you are likely to be a victim of a data breach without the right security measures in place.
Not only is it a good idea to avoid cyber threats, but intrusion protection helps you stay compliant.
Protection often comes in the form of an intrusion prevention system. What is this exactly and what is the importance for business? Keep reading to find out.
What Is an Intrusion Prevention System?
An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is a network security tool that monitors a business network for malicious activity. It is either software or hardware that will take action to prevent, report, block, or drop suspicious activity.
Intrusion protection works best with IPS rather than an intrusion detection system (IDS). IDS detects malicious activity but does nothing to prevent the problem.
An IPS might be included with a next-generation firewall (NGFW) or unified threat management (UTM) solution. To ensure this system doesn’t slow down your network performance, find one powerful enough to scan a lot of traffic.
IDS vs. IPS
When it comes to IDS vs. IPS, the terms refer to how a system responds to a threat. An IPS is an IDS but an IDS is not always an IPS.
An IDS won’t try to prevent an attack but will raise an alert. The responsibility is then handed off to a human analyst or IT expert.
An IPS will respond to an attack based on predefined formulas. Responses can include the following among other things:
- Quarantining a file
- Killing a malicious process
- Blocking incoming network traffic
This begs the question, “why does an IDS exist if an IPS is better at protecting a network against threats?” Because an IPS might make an incorrect threat detection against a legit user, IDS exists.
An IDS is best used when the business wants to maintain control over the decision to engage in a cyber incident. An IPS offer the advantage of a quicker response to real threats that occur.
Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDPS)
An IDPS (intrusion detection and prevention system) can be classified based on the threats they are designed to protect. They can be network-based or host-based.
A host-based IDPS protects a certain endpoint. It can monitor network traffic entering and leaving a device along with modifications to files, processes running on the system, and more.
Network-based intrusion prevention systems monitor traffic on the entire network. It can sniff out problems in wireless traffic as well.
Traffic found is analyzed for malicious content based on other common attacks. This is also known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
Network-Based Intrusion Detection System (NIDS)
As stated above, network intrusion detection systems keep track of traffic coming in and out of the network. NIDS can look for and identify threats in the network. It can also warn an administrator about potential risks.
After a warning is given, the port scanner is used on the network with protection from an IDS. The top three advantages of using NIDS include:
- Safe from direct attacks
- Faster than a host-based detection system
- Helpful in detecting external and internal attacks or threats
Hackers are typically unable to trace NIDS when working within the network. However, there are a few disadvantages of using this system that you should keep in mind:
- Cannot identify or read encrypted data
- High chance of false positives
- Time-consuming when monitoring large data volumes
For a lot of businesses, the pros heavily outweigh the cons.
Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS)
Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) analyze the activity of the entire system which includes system calls and application logs. It differs from NIDS because NIDS only monitors network behavior.
HIDS can spot internal and external threats in the system. It’s able to locate and identify known signatures and malicious patterns that might be threats to your security. These threats can be generated by software or humans.
HIDS is helpful in detecting anomalies such as someone trying to log into another’s computer to tamper with data and files. It will capture snapshots of machine data and run processes to generate an alert if altered over time.
HIDS is helpful for noting changes in logs, software, operating system files, and other network areas.
The pros of using a host-based IDS are:
- Access to encrypted data
- Detects anomalies by focusing on devices and systems
- Can identify external and internal activities
Like a network-based system, there are cons to using HIDS that include:
- Substantial risk of false positives
- A time-consuming and tedious process
- Chances of network traffic congestion
Choosing between NIDS and HIDS should be based on your network size. Keep in mind that either system is going to be quicker than humans despite the tedious processes.
How Does an IPS Work?
An intrusion protection system is placed between the source and destination of network traffic. It typically sits behind the firewall.
Intrusion prevention systems identify threats in three different ways: signature-based, anomaly-based, and policy-based.
Signature-Based
Signature-based identification matches activity to signatures of well-known threats. This means it can only identify attacks that have been previously made.
You cannot recognize new attacks with this form of identification.
Anomaly-Based
Anomaly-based methods will monitor your network for odd behavior. It does this by comparing random network activity samples to baseline standards.
It’s a stronger security system than signature-based, but it can produce false positives. Newer intrusion prevention systems use AI and machine learning technology to complete anomaly-based monitoring.
Policy-Based
Policy-based is a less common method than the two above. Your business can define security policies in which the system blocks activity that violates those policies.
An administrator can set up and configure the policies based on their security needs.
Types of Intrusion Prevention Systems
Network intrusion protection comes in different forms. These four are the most common types of IPS that each have a slightly different purpose:
- Network intrusion prevention system (NIPS)
- Network behavior analysis (NBA)
- Host intrusion prevention system (HIPS)
- Wireless intrusion prevention system (WIPS)
You might find that having more than one type is beneficial for business.
The Importance of an IPS
Intrusion protection tools are key for any enterprise security system.
A modern business network deals with high traffic volume and multiple access points. Manual monitoring is an unrealistic option, especially if you opt for cloud security.
IPS continues to be important because of the growing threats that enterprise security systems face. An IPS has automated capabilities that allow your business to respond to threats fast without placing too much strain on IT.
Even with this system, it’s still ideal to search for managed IT services near me.
An IPS is a tool that can help prevent some of the most crucial and sophisticated attacks on business. This includes those created by highly strategic cyber threats.
Benefits of an Intrusion Prevention System
An intrusion prevention system offers a lot of benefits for businesses. You’ll want intrusion protection services in your IT contract if you outsource these tasks.
The top advantages for a corporation include the following:
- Additional security
- Increased efficiency
- Time savings
- Compliance
- Customization
We’ll go over each of the benefits with a few details.
Additional Security
An IPS works with other security solutions you currently have for the business. It can identify threats that those solutions cannot which increases overall security.
This is especially true if you have an anomaly-based detection system. With its high level of application awareness, it provides superior application security.
Increased Efficiency
IPS can filter out malicious activity before it gets to your other business devices. In turn, it reduces the workload for other controls. Because of this, your system will run more efficiently.
Time Savings
Think about how much time it takes to scan through your network for threats manually. You are wasting time on this when you could be using the time for something else.
IPS is automated and requires less of a time investment from your IT team.
Compliance
Your business is required to stay compliant with the PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more. An IPS fulfill many, if not all, of these requirements. Plus, it provides auditing data that will come in handy.
Customization
Depending on the type of intrusion protection system, you can customize it to match your security policies. These security controls should be specific to your business and set up by the right person.
The Relationship Between Intrusion Protection and Cybersecurity
The relationship between intrusion protection and cybersecurity is obvious because a lot of malicious activity comes from cyber threats. Cyber threats are serious, especially for small businesses.
In fact, 60% of small businesses go out of business six months after they suffered from a cyber attack.
With intrusion protection, you mitigate your risks of cyber threats and going out of business because of them. Cyber security is just as important to business as an IPS. They even have some of the same benefits because they work hand in hand.
This is what you can expect to reap when your IPS is a focus of cybersecurity for business:
Improves Productivity
Cybersecurity is conducive to improving overall business productivity. While having an IPS, you need to have an IT team that knows how to handle it.
Hire experts who know how to stop viruses from attacking a business with the use of an IPS and other security measures. Without this, you lose a lot of business hours to a cyberattack that causes production to come to a halt.
One-Stop Solution
Cybersecurity solutions act as a one-stop-shop for fast-changing technologies. Their use for business has more benefits than costs.
Technology makes computer devices vulnerable to cyberattacks from outsiders and unauthorized personnel. Strategic cybersecurity can help a business keep its network safe.
Cybercriminals are learning new ways to attack businesses through machine learning and AI. They can compromise multiple systems at once.
While it is important to have an IPS that can detect common threats, systems for detecting new threats should be in place as well.
Stable Website Performance
IPS allows for everything to come full circle for business productivity. If your company maintains a website, you retain customers.
However, an infected hosting server makes your website shut down if operations are affected. In turn, your customers lose trust in you which dampens your brand reputation.
With an IPS, you don’t have to worry about cyber criminals or software programs attacking your website. You then receive a stable website performance while keeping your current and new customers happy.
Protects Business From Losses
Cybercrimes like phishing, fraud, and hacking lead to business loss because it allows criminals access to company and customer data. A customer can then sue your business.
You will also reduce compliance, which leads to excessive fines and even stricter legislation. Hacking and theft can cost a lot when recovering data. Small businesses might have to file for bankruptcy because of this.
Plus, there are cyberattack methods known as ransomware, that require you to spend a lot of money to get data back. Hackers will ask for thousands or even millions of dollars with the threat of releasing private information.
Intrusion Protection: Does Your Business Need It?
Every business that uses technology is prone to cyber threats. Because threats are more common and complicated these days, having more than one intrusion protection system is ideal.
With the right IPS, your business can reap the benefits listed in this guide. To find the best one for your network, hire an IT team that knows the ins and outs of this tech.
Technology like this is best used when in the hands of the experts. For more informative articles on business, check out the other advice posts we have on our website.
