Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) attempt to detect cyber attacks, malware, denial of service (DoS) attacks or port scans on a computer network or a computer itself. NIDS monitor network traffic and detect malicious activity by identifying suspicious patterns in incoming packets. Any malicious activity or violation is typically reported either to an administrator or collected centrally using a security information and event management (SIEM) system.
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Due to the sophistication of cyber threats and data breaches, implementing and maintaining network security, data security and information security requires a defense in depth approach. Organizations need to secure their networks with a combination of technologies and detection methods designed to combat multiple attack vectors, intrusion and compromise methods available to cyber criminals today.
It's no longer enough to rely on a simple security system and antivirus software that can protect against known attacks at the application layer.
A variety of tools and methodologies exist, however two common elements used to secure enterprise network configurations are the firewall and intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems (IDS/IDPS). Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic based on rules and policies, acting as a barrier between secure and untrusted networks.
Inside the secure network, an IDS/IDPS detects suspicious activity to and from hosts and within traffic itself, taking proactive measures to log and block attacks.
The main difference between intrusion detection systems and intrusion prevention systems are that intrusion prevention systems are placed inline. This means they can actively prevent or block intrusions that are detected. IPS can send an alarm, drop malicious packets, reset a connection, block traffic from an offending IP address, correct cyclic redundancy check (CRC) errors, defragment packet streams, mitigate TCP sequencing issues and clean up unwanted transport and network layer options.
This post will focus on NIDS rather than host intrusion detection systems (HIDS) and intrusion prevention systems.
IDS/IDPS offerings can be split into two solutions: network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and host intrusion detection systems (HIDS).
NIDS are strategically positioned at various points in the network to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to and from networked devices. NIDS solutions offer sophisticated, real-time intrusion detection capabilities, consisting of an assembly of interoperating pieces: a standalone appliance, hardware sensors and software components are common. These work in concert to allow a wider range of network intrusion detection capabilities than HIDS solutions.
In contrast, HIDS solutions are installed on every computer's operating system to analyze and monitor traffic coming to and from the device in question. HIDS also track and monitor local file changes and potential alterations due to unauthorized access and/or compromise.
A comprehensive cyber security strategy will employ both NIDS and HIDS since each comes with distinct advantages and disadvantages.
For example, since HIDS are host-installed and have access to details such as registry settings, logs and other system information, they can make IP address attribution and digital forensics more accessible. However, resources are drawn from the host (e.g. the computer the HIDS is installed on) to power the HIDS and HIDS are reactive in nature and can only respond to an attack after it has occurred.
In contrast, NIDS are usually hardware installed on the network itself and don't tap into any underlying network devices for resources. The installation of NIDS tends to be simple too, simply drop them into the network to begin monitoring for suspicious traffic. However, NIDS are usually expensive and targeted at the enterprise user.
That said, there are a decent selection of free, open-source NIDS solutions available based on commodity hardware that offer comparable levels of security and protection as commercial NIDS offerings.
Before we can jump into what free NIDS offerings are available, another distinction must be made concerning how different types of NIDS detect intrusions.
NIDS can incorporate one or both types of intrusion detection: signature-based and anomaly-based.
A signature-based NIDS monitors network traffic for suspicious patterns in data packets, signatures of known network intrusions, to detect and remediate attacks and compromises.
This is achieved through the use of a database of known intrusion types and data patterns, allowing signature-based NIDS to quickly identify intrusions and initiate the appropriate course of action.
In contrast, anomaly-based NIDS use the baseline of the system in a normal state to track whether unusual or suspicious activity is occurring. This method takes time to set up, as baselining requires the NIDS to learn about your usage patterns, making it an organic, heuristic based approach to intrusion detection.
The benefit of anomaly-based NIDS is that it is more flexible and powerful than signature-based NIDS that require an intrusion type is on file to pattern match against.
For example, a newly discovered intrusion type or vulnerability may not yet to be listed on CVE, making it hard for the signature-based NIDS to detect it.
However, an anomaly-based NIDS could react immediately to the change in baseline.
In general, it's suggested to employ a defense in depth strategy because both have their pros and cons.
Signature-based approaches are faster, generate less false positives and don't require time for baselining. However, they are reactive in nature and are completely exposed to new cyber threats. as they rely on a database of preexisting intrusion signatures.
While anomaly-based NIDS are difficult to set up, configure and train, they can be effective against new and existing attack vectors because of their ability to baseline a system at each protocol stack.
Signature-based and anomaly-based NIDS have complementary strengths and should be used together.
Securing the enterprise these days doesn&#;t need to be a bank-breaking ordeal. The aforementioned free open source NIDS solutions are all competent offerings that offer industrial strength protection against intrusions and compromises, with many of the tools complementing each other when used in tandem. Furthermore, offerings like Security Onion have taken the legwork out of picking/choosing the appropriate tools by combining the most popular open source security tools into one unified solution stack, freely available and easy to install.
At UpGuard, we can protect your business from data breaches, identify all of your data leaks, and help you continuously monitor the security posture of all your vendors.
UpGuard also supports compliance across a myriad of security frameworks, including the new requirements set by Biden's Cybersecurity Executive Order.
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Cyber threats pose significant risks to organizations of all sizes, making robust security measures imperative. An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is one critical component in an organization&#;s cybersecurity arsenal, acting as a vigilant gatekeeper to actively monitor network traffic and prevent unauthorized access and malicious attacks. Choosing the right IPS can depend on everything from whether it is network-based or hosted to how well it integrates with existing systems and how much it costs.
We&#;ve rounded up the best intrusion prevention systems to help make the selection process less daunting. Here are our top picks:
Here&#;s a look at how the top IPSs compared based on key features.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of fiber optic intrusion detection system. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Real-Time Alerts Integration with Other Security Systems Type of Intrusion Detection Automatic Updates Pricing Cisco Secure Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System Yes Yes Network-based Yes On-contact Fidelis Network Yes Yes Network-based Yes 15-day free trial Palo Alto Networks Threat Prevention Yes Yes Network-based and host-based Yes Free trial Trellix Intrusion Prevention System Yes Yes Network-based and host-based Yes On-contactJump to:
Best for comprehensive network security
Cisco offers advanced threat protection solutions with Cisco Secure IPS. This cloud-native platform offers robust security with unified visibility and intuitive automation. It gathers and correlates global intelligence in a single view and can handle large traffic volumes without impacting the network performance.
This highly flexible solution can be easily deployed across different network environments as its open architecture supports Amazon Web Services (AWS), VMWare, Azure, and other hypervisors.
Cisco offers free trials for most products, including its IPS, but does not make its pricing readily available. For details, contact Sales Support.
Best for Advanced Threat Detection Response
Fidelis Network improves security efficiency by detecting advanced threats and behavioral anomalies, employing a proactive cyber-defense strategy to more quickly detect and respond to threats before they can affect a business. Fidelis Network can bolster data security with rich insights into bi-directional encrypted traffic.
This specific network defense solution helps prevent future breaches with both real-time and retrospective analysis.
Fidelis Network offers a 15-day free trial, and will schedule a demo before it to show off the system&#;s capabilities and features.
Best for Zero-Day Exploits
Palo Alto Networks&#; Advanced Threat Prevention is based on purpose-built, inline deep learning models that secure businesses from the most advanced and evasive threats. Powered by multi-pronged detection mechanisms that efficiently take care of unknown injection attacks and zero-day exploits, this infinitely scalable solution blocks command and control (C2) attacks in real time without compromising performance.
Palo Alto Networks offers free trials, hands-on demos, and personalized tours for its products and solutions, but does not make its pricing models publicly available. Contact sales for details.
Best for On-Prem and Virtual Networks
Trellix Intrusion Prevention System offers comprehensive and effective security for business networks, offering two variants: Trellix Intrusion Prevention System and Trellix Virtual Intrusion Prevention System. The virtual variant takes care of the private and public cloud requirements, and secures virtualized environments using advanced inspection technologies.
Schedule a demo to learn whether Trellix meets specific requirements. The vendor does not make pricing models publicly available; contact sales.
When deciding on an intrusion prevention system, make sure the features and capabilities match specific needs. Key features include the following:
Proactive threat detection and prompt incident response require real-time visibility. Timely alerts help implement preventive measures before any significant damage to the security posture. Advanced IPSs have real-time monitoring capabilities to identify potential vulnerabilities and minimize the impact of security incidents.
Intrusion prevention systems cannot operate in isolation. For the efficient protection of the entire business security infrastructure, they must integrate with other security solutions and platforms for a coordinated response. This also helps with the centralized management of security incidents.
There are mainly two types of intrusion detection: network-based and host-based. While network-based intrusion detection examines and analyzes the network traffic for vulnerabilities, host-based intrusion detection checks individual systems like servers, endpoints, or particular assets.
Automatic updates can help ensure an IPS adapt to the continuously evolving threat landscape of new threats and newly discovered vulnerabilities. They can also help keep pace with changing compliance and regulatory requirements and implement the latest security patches.
Threat intelligence helps an IPS enhance detection capabilities and minimize vulnerabilities with efficient mitigation strategies. With threat intelligence capabilities, IPS solutions access timely and actionable information to develop effective response strategies.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing an IPS:
There are broadly four types of IPS configurations depending on the network environment, security policies, and requirements where they will be implemented: network-based, host-based, wireless, and network behavior analysis system. Multiple configurations can also support complex pathways.
Intrusion prevention systems use different detection techniques to identify malicious activities&#;primarily signature-based, anomaly-based, and protocol-based. Signature-based detection helps detect consistent cyber threat patterns from a static list of known signatures, while anomaly-based detection can detect abnormalities within normal activity patterns. Protocol-based systems offer the flexibility to set references for benign protocol activities.
Intrusion prevention systems can be integrated using dedicated hardware and software, or incorporated within existing enterprise security controls. Businesses that don&#;t want to upgrade system architecture or invest in products or resources can rely on managed service providers for security, but an IPS purchased and installed on the network offers more control and authority.
Intrusion detection systems help detect security incidents and threats and send alerts to the Security Operations Center (SOC). Issues are investigated by security personnel and countermeasures executed accordingly. Essentially, they&#;re monitoring tools. While intrusion prevention systems also detect potential threats and malicious incidents, they automatically take appropriate actions, making them highly proactive, control-based cybersecurity solutions.
Intrusion prevention systems are key to enterprise security as they help prevent serious and sophisticated attacks. Some of the key benefits of IPS for businesses are:
Intrusion prevention systems may slow down the network in the case of inadequate bandwidth and capacity, heavy traffic loads, or computational burdens.
In order to provide an objective and comprehensive comparison of the various IPSs available in the market, we followed a structured research methodology. We defined evaluation criteria, conducted market research, collected data on each solution, evaluated and scored them, cross-verified our findings, and documented the results. Additionally, we considered user reviews and feedback to gain valuable insights into the real-world performance and customer satisfaction of each intrusion prevention solution.
The top intrusion prevention systems all work to protect enterprise networks from the ever-present, always evolving threat of cyberattack, but some stand out for different use cases. Selecting the right one will depend on the organization&#;s security needs, goals, and budget. Regular evaluation and updates are crucial to staying ahead of evolving threats and ensuring a robust security posture&#;the right IPS can enhance network security, protect sensitive data, and safeguard a business against potential cyber threats.
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