Clear DefinitionsIntrusion Prevention System (IPS)
1 min read
Pronunciation
[in-troo-zhuhn pri-ven-shun sis-təm]
Analogy
Like a security guard who not only hears a window break but also locks down the building and detains the intruder.
Definition
A security appliance or software that not only detects but also actively blocks or mitigates malicious traffic and activities in real time based on predefined rules or behavioral analysis.
Key Points Intro
IPS extends IDS capabilities by automatically intervening to stop detected threats.
Key Points
Inline deployment: Inspects and filters live traffic flows.
Signature & anomaly: Blocks known and novel attacks.
Policy enforcement: Applies access control and rate limits.
Automated response: Resets connections, quarantines hosts.
Example
An enterprise IPS blocks SQL injection attempts by inspecting HTTP payloads and dropping malicious packets before they reach the database.
Technical Deep Dive
IPS modules integrate with network taps or inline bridges, parse L3–L7 protocols, and apply high-speed pattern-matching (Aho–Corasick) or statistical models. Upon match, triggers Drop, Reject, or Rate-Limit actions and logs incidents to SIEM.
Security Warning
Improper rules can block legitimate traffic; maintain whitelist exceptions and monitor blocked events.
Caveat
Inline blocking introduces latency; balance security with performance.
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