What is IPS and IDS?

The necessity of data security is critically important in the modern world. Therefore, monitoring the security of corporate networks, detecting and solving issues, and taking precautions can be achieved through various technologies. IPS and IDS methods are among these technologies. Failing to monitor threats in corporate networks and not taking necessary precautions can lead to significant risks. You can read more about the usage of IPS and IDS in the continuation of this article.

What is IPS?

IPS is a network security tool that detects unauthorized intrusions into a network and monitors potential malicious activities. These tools can be either hardware or software. IPS stands for "Intrusion Prevention System." Unlike IDS, IPS has the ability to prevent detected attacks. The question "What is IPS?" can be answered as "a system that intervenes in attacks in real-time." When an IPS system detects an attack, it takes action to prevent the attack from damaging the network. Thus, when both systems are used together, IDS detects attacks, while IPS prevents them, providing comprehensive protection.

Types of IPS

There are 4 different types of IPS used today. These;

• Network-based intrusion prevention system (NIPS)
• Wireless intrusion prevention system (WIPS)
• Network behavior analysis (NBA)
• It may be listed as host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS).

NIPS analyzes the entire network for protocol activity, while WIPS monitors wireless network protocols and checks the network for suspicious traffic. It is also the NBA's duty to provide unusual traffic analysis and control the flow of unusual traffic, such as certain forms of malware and policy violations. HIPS, on the other hand, is a software package that checks for suspicious behavior by scanning a host computer and the events occurring within that computer.

What is IDS?

IDS stands for Intrusion Detection System, which can be translated into Turkish as Intrusion Detection System. It is a kind of intrusion prevention system. IDS stands for Intrusion Detection System, that is, attack detection system, and IDS ensures that the attacks it detects are blocked. In addition, IDS can intervene in these attacks instantly. It automatically responds to an action identified as an attack and prevents it from causing further damage to the network. It keeps log records of potential attacks detected on the network. It analyzes network traffic regularly. It records the anomalies it detects.

Types of IDS

There are different types of IDS with various features. These are:

• NIDS (Network-Based IDS): Monitors network traffic and detects attacks.
• HIDS (Host-Based IDS): Monitors all activities on a device and can detect attacks on those devices.

How Do IPS and IDS Systems Work?

These are systems that monitor network traffic and analyze and flag these attacks when there are unauthorized or suspicious entries into a network. Preventing intrusions, detecting intrusions and stopping detected attacks is possible with IPS and IDS systems working together. First, let's see how IPS and IDS work when used together:

1. Three detection methodologies are used to detect events.
2. Possible events are identified using the signature method. This is one of the most basic detection methods. A comparison of signatures or signature packages is made.
3. It compares the current attack with software previously marked as dangerous to detect a planted anomaly. This detection method is very important to accurately detect threats whose security status is unknown.
4. Accepted profiles for security protocol activities are also compared with existing events.
5. If the anomaly is identified as a threat or attack, IPS interrupts the connection and closes the session or traffic to prevent the threat traffic from entering the device and reaching its target.

Differences Between IPS and IDS

Even though IPS and IDS do not do exactly the same job, both solutions serve the same purpose. Both systems monitor networks. It monitors network traffic and data flow between devices and servers. However, the targets and scopes of the capabilities of the two systems are different. When a potential threat is detected, only the IPS can take the necessary action. However, it can alert both systems to exploration and action. Depending on the detection system used by an IPS or IDS system, both systems detect possible suspicious behavior and work to reduce the number of false positive actions. Both systems have similar technologies for attack and threat learning. Both systems also keep logs for monitoring and analysis. In this way, performance measurements and reporting can be made.

The main difference between IPS and IDS is that IDS is a monitoring system while IPS is a control system. Both systems read network packets and compare their network contents with a database of identified threats or key actions. But IDS cannot modify network packets. In addition, IPS can interrupt transmission based on packet contents using the firewall's IP address method. In addition, IPS types, classified according to different usage types and features, are more in number and features than IDS types.

Applications of IPS and IDS

In basic security architectures, IPS and IDS often work together with the firewall. It is located behind the firewall. It works with the firewall to increase the security level. It can also catch threats that the firewall cannot catch and prevent on its own. On the other hand, it constantly monitors the network. As a result of continuous monitoring, reporting can take preventative actions, including attack prevention. The devices using this network can be hardware, software or a virtual server.

Benefits of Using IPS and IDS

IDS and IPS systems, which monitor all traffic on a network to identify any malicious activity, offer significant advantages. An attacker usually starts by identifying a vulnerability in a device or software to breach the network’s firewall. IPS and IDS identify such attempts to exploit vulnerabilities and prevent attacks before any endpoint on the network is affected. One of the key benefits of IPS and IDS systems is their ability to operate in both network environments and data centers, providing comprehensive protection.

As cybersecurity management becomes increasingly important, organizations allocate specific budgets to safeguard against malware and attacks. By using IDS and IPS technologies together, you can establish a robust security management system that covers a wide range of potential threats.

Once IPS and IDS are configured and installed, they generally don’t require much human intervention. Thanks to their automation feature, you can make fast decisions regarding network security controls without the need for a dedicated team.

While using IPS and IDS, you can integrate them with various tools and standards. They are compatible with numerous standards and documentation necessary for protecting sensitive data.

These systems can also be configured to support the implementation of your information security policies. You can adjust the system according to the protection level required. For instance, if you’re using only one operating system, you can set it up to block network traffic from other systems.

Unlike IPS, IDS does not have the ability to prevent threats, but it is ideal for industrial control systems (ICS) or environments with critical infrastructure, where minimizing disruptions is crucial. IDS detects issues and relays them to security teams, such as SOCs (Security Operations Centers), giving them enough time to determine if network traffic should be halted or if further action is needed.

IPS, on the other hand, has become a more vital requirement as malware grows in speed and complexity. IPS is particularly ideal for environments where unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as databases, could lead to significant damage.

There are numerous benefits to using IPS and IDS. When selecting the right system, it’s essential to consider the balance between usability and protection. For more information before choosing the best system, you can check out our Bootcamp trainings and blog page.