What Is an Intrusion Detection System, and Why Do You Need One?

When your business requires a computer network, an intrusion detection system (IDS) in Phoenix can function as an early threat alert. An IDS monitors the network to find hackers and malware before they can harm the rest of your network. Most IDS find anomalies, but some are capable of acting on the threats and neutralizing them before they can cause damage.

Here’s an overview of what an IDS can do for you.

How they work

Intrusion detection systems work to catch anomalies in network traffic, and alert the administrators right away. Generally, they are either network-based (the IDS resides on the network itself) or host-based (the IDS is installed on the client computer). IDS can be installed on client computers as well as on cloud-based systems, to protect cloud storage.

These computer watchdogs are programmed to look for hallmarks of known harmful activity, as well as any deviations from normal traffic and usage. The anomalies are spotted, analyzed and, if they’re found to be suspicious, they either alert the network administrator or neutralize the threat. Depending on the specific type of IDS, they may perform both duties.

Types of intrusion detection systems

There are multiple types of IDS available to Phoenix businesses. The right type for your network will depend on what you’re using it for and what the most likely threats may be:

• Anomaly intrusion detection systems: This type of IDS compares the current network traffic to the baseline historical type of traffic. If the system detects anything out of the ordinary in the protocols, ports, bandwidth and other system features, it will alert the IT administrator to the suspicious activity. This is useful in detecting new threats and methods of attack.
• Host intrusion detection systems: This IDS runs on all the devices within the network, which allows it to detect anomalies within the network as well as without. This is particularly useful when a device has been infected with malware and is trying to infect other devices.
• Network intrusion detection systems: This IDS monitors the traffic (both inbound and outbound) at designated points within the network. This allows the system to look for intrusions from inside or outside the network.
• Signature intrusion detection systems: This type of IDS compares the network traffic to the existing signatures of malicious threats. If they find similarities, the IDS will alert the network administrators.

Intrusion detection systems are also designated as active or passive. Active systems not only alert the network administrators, but try to neutralize the threat. Passive systems alert administrators, but only log the data.

Using an IDS is a smart way to ensure your network’s safety. Not only will you be alerted to any issues, but you’ll have a detailed log of what happened, when it happened and which devices were affected. Keeping your data secure should be your top priority, so consider installing an intrusion detection system in Phoenix today.

Learn more about IDS when you call the team at Southwest System Monitoring, Inc. We look forward to working with you!

Categorised in: Intrusion Detection Systems

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