Benefits of Intrusion Detection Systems

If your business uses a network, you already know you’re vulnerable to attack. Firewalls and antivirus software are effective ways to limit the possibility, but intrusion detection systems (IDS) offer smart additional protection. IDS can monitor your network in Phoenix and raise an alert if any suspicious activity is discovered.

What is an intrusion detection system?

Intrusion detection systems are classified as active or passive. Active systems alert the network administrators that a threat has been detected, and attempt to neutralize the threat. Passive systems alert administrators, and log the activity, but take no further action.

The systems can be hosted on the network itself, or hosted on the client computers and devices. There are several different subsets, which look for anomalies in the inbound and outbound network traffic, signatures similar to malicious threats and problems within the host network. Each type of IDS has its own benefits and drawbacks, so working with an experienced security company is key to identifying the right type for your needs.

Why you need an IDS

Naturally, the biggest benefit to an IDS is identifying security threats to your networks. They’re an early alert system, designed to ensure malicious attacks don’t spread within the network and cause more damage. If you choose an active system, it can also help neutralize the thread until your administrators can address the problem.

In addition to identifying (and potentially neutralizing) security threats, intrusion detection systems in Phoenix also log attacks. Detailed records of malicious attacks help administrators identify weaknesses, address problems and watch out for future attacks.

The detailed logs are also helpful if you need to prove that your network is in compliance with industry regulations. You can use the logs to show how you’re addressing security issues, and prove that your network has been appropriately secured. They also make it easier to observe activity across the entire network.

Finally, IDS make it easier to improve your security alerts and response, based on the data being passed around the network, the devices targeted and how the previous security response handled the threat.

What to consider

If you’re thinking about installing an IDS, there are a few drawbacks you should consider. First, there’s a possibility of false positives. This can usually be addressed by “teaching” the system about the baseline network traffic, which will help reduce the number of false positives. Of course, it’s always better to have false positives than false negatives—false negatives may allow malicious traffic to continue and pose a threat to your network.

False negatives are therefore a much bigger problem, and as hackers and malware become more sophisticated, an IDS may not be able to detect suspicious traffic. It’s important to pick a system that allows you to monitor and adjust your alerts, so you never miss a potential attack.

If you’re having trouble deciding which intrusion detection system to buy for your Phoenix operation, let the team at Southwest System Monitoring, Inc. help. We’re experts in network security, and can help you pick the right solutions for your company.

Categorised in: Intrusion Detection Systems

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