Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems: Types and Deployments

Increasing threats and cyberattacks have increased the demand for higher spending on cybersecurity infrastructure. Detecting incoming malicious activity requires tools that work on multi-level platforms and work ahead of humans. That is when Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) come into the picture.

The global intrusion detection and prevention systems market is expected to witness a skyrocketing growth of $9.04 billion by 2028.

This marks an 8.89% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2028, directly showing the phenomenal increase in the IT budget for all large, medium, and small enterprises. IDPS solutions are seen as a boon to companies that are struggling to defend against increasing cyberattacks.

Addressing the increasing need for Intrusion detection and prevention systems

With the evolution of networks and the work depending on their safety, intrusion detection and prevention systems are placed and developed on a regular basis. Keeping sniffer tools to understand network traffic and analyze the metadata has become a norm for vigilant companies.

IDPS helps monitor every exchanged event through networks to offer insights at the slightest hint of an intrusion. It allows automated response to attacks in real-time making it faster and more efficient.

A Researchgate report defines intrusion detection and prevention systems as, “Software or hardware which can detect malicious events that attempt to infect a security policy.”

IDPS can save a network with the following benefits –

1. Real-time monitoring takes lesser time than manual efforts.
2. Insights on the time required for each step in the detection and prevention of threats.
3. Blocking threats and interrupting suspicious activity.
4. Offering data on the current scenario as witnessed on the host and its traffic of packets.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): Types and Deployments

Types of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems

There are two main paths to ensure intrusion detection and prevention. Namely network-based and host-based. Host-based intrusion detection monitors the endpoint of a device to detect malicious traffic.

While Network Intrusion Protection System (NIPS) is like a firewall and is like a guard at a gate of a facility, NIPS is more like the roaming security guard who walks around the building.

Choosing the best detection and prevention systems for one’s organization needs a thorough analysis of the organization’s goals and requirements.

There are four main types of intrusion detection systems (IDS). They are –

1. Host intrusion detection systems (HIDS)
2. Protocol-based intrusion detection system (PIDS)
3. Application protocol-based intrusion detection systems (APIDS)
4. Hybrid intrusion detection system

Host-based detection systems monitors the endpoint of a device to detect malicious traffic.

Protocol-based intrusion detection system works on a web server to monitor exchanges between devices on a network and online services.

Application protocol-based intrusion detection system watches communications between users and applications.

The hybrid intrusion detection system uses a combination of IDS that helps in a larger capacity, especially in complex organizational systems.

It is further divided into active IDS and passive IDS. Active IDS automatically blocks or restricts IP addresses for suspected attacks. Passive IDS alerts an admin about suspicious activities.

Following the selection of the best intrusion detection and prevention systems an organization may use, the following can be expected –

1. Signature-based – It analyses and compares signatures of familiar cyberattacks and threats stored in its database with forthcoming data.
2. Anamoly-based – Monitors and works with any suspicious behavior noticed in the organization’s network.
3. Protocol-based intrusion detection system (PIDS) – This system is installed on a web server. It identifies and analyzes protocols of the computing system.