Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) solutions detect and prevent unauthorized, and potentially malicious, activities within a computer network. Intrusion prevention is a critical component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy as it blocks intruders from accessing the network and causing potentially irreparable – and likely very expensive – damages.
These solutions analyze network traffic flows to detect, flag, isolate, and prevent malicious activity and code from harming networks. Often situated behind a firewall, IPS provides an additional, in-depth layer of analysis that further inspects web traffic—often performing a deep dive into IP packets and signatures to identify any anomalies. Anything deemed malicious is isolated, resolved, and flagged with IT teams for further inspection. Some solutions also come with the ability to detect any vulnerabilities within the network. These can also be highlighted for admins to investigate. IPS is beneficial in delivering security at deeper layers in the network.
To make the process of selecting an intrusion prevention system solution easier, we have put together a list of strong options to consider. Many of the solutions on this list are part of a consolidation of other security tools under one product, such as firewalls or Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions. This is due in part to the fact that IPS solutions are usually placed directly behind a firewall, so they’re often integrated into other solutions.
Check Point Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) delivers integrated next-generation firewall intrusion prevention capabilities at multi-gigabit speeds, ensuring high security effectiveness with a low false positive rate.
How it works: Check Point combines computer intelligence and SOC team insights to identify threats. It can automatically deploy virtual patches every two hours to provide a swift response to vulnerabilities.
Who it’s for: Enterprises and large organizations looking for robust, comprehensive network protection.
Benefits: Check Point IPS provides advanced security features that protect your organization from a wide range of network threats.
The bottom line: Check Point IPS is a reliable solution for enterprises looking to maintain high performance and robust security through advanced intrusion prevention methods and integration with other security systems. It allows administrators to analyze security logs and IPS tags to develop specific policies tailored to your environment.
Cisco Secure IPS provides advanced network visibility and control, allowing users better control of their network through applications, host profiles, file trajectory, sandboxing, and vulnerability information.
How it works: Cisco IPS continuously scans your network to gather intelligence, which is used to build a profile map. This map provides key, contextual information that allows you to make informed decisions when it comes to intrusion events.
Who it’s for: Enterprises looking for a comprehensive intrusion prevention system with extensive threat detection capabilities.
Benefits: Cisco Secure IPS offers detailed network visibility and robust threat detection.
The bottom line: Cisco Secure IPS provides a comprehensive intrusion prevention solution that is highly adaptable and integrates smoothly with existing infrastructures. Its automation and continuous threat updates ensure robust security and operational efficiency for enterprises.
Trellix Network Security detects, blocks, and responds to advanced and targeted cyberattacks. It uses signatureless detection to protect against advanced threats, including zero day attacks.
How it works: Trellix uses a system called Multi-Vector Virtual Execution (MVX) alongside ML and AI. MVX is a signature-less, dynamic detection engine that can identify new threats, and those that don’t fit with policy-based defenses. This trio of technologies is able to detect and warn you of a broad range of threats.
Who it’s for: Mid-sized to large enterprises with complex IT environments.
Benefits: Trellix Network Security delivers advanced threat detection and response capabilities and is able to generate high-fidelity alerts to ensure efficient analysis and reduced alert fatigue.
The bottom line: Trellix Network Security effectively combines advanced detection methods with automations n to provide comprehensive protection against sophisticated threats.
Forcepoint’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) offers a comprehensive security and networking solution with integrated Secure SD-WAN and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
How it works: Forcepoint NGFW includes a firewall, VPN, and ZTNA Application connector. This allows it extensive insight into your network, where it can decode and normalize traffic to identify the most pressing threats.
Who it’s for: Enterprises looking for flexible, single-vendor SASE architecture with advanced security and connectivity features.
Benefits: The Forcepoint NGFW provides robust security, flexible deployment, and efficient management capabilities.
The bottom line: Forcepoint’s Next-Generation Firewall provides advanced security features and flexible networking solutions, making it an excellent choice for enterprises requiring dependable, single-vendor SASE architecture, and streamlined network management.
FortiGuard Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) detects and blocks known and suspicious threats before they reach users’ devices. It analyzes and deploys new IP signatures in near real-time for a speedy and coordinated response.
How it works: FortiGuard combines near real-time intelligence with thousands of intrusion prevention rules, without adversely impacting on performance. This is achieved through offloading resource-intensive tasks to dedicated processors, thereby preserving network performance and user experience.
Who it’s for: The platform is suitable for enterprises requiring robust, comprehensive network defense, particularly manufacturing sector due to its ability to analyze network traffic and secure IOT apps and devices.
Benefits: FortiGuard IPS Service offers high-level protection driven by Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to accurately identify and prevent malicious traffic from entering the network.
The bottom line: FortiGuard IPS Service provides fast, reliable, and comprehensive protection, leveraging advanced AI/ML techniques.
Hillstone Network-based Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS) provides deep packet inspection and high-speed threat detection for comprehensive network security. It uses multiple rule-based methodologies like anomaly and signature analysis, to effectively identify and block threats.
How it works: NIPS operates in-line and at wire speed, carrying out deep packet inspection of all traffic. It also utilizes AI to provide DDoS protection and to apply network traffic inspection rules.
Who it’s for: Enterprises requiring for extensive network threat management and real-time traffic monitoring. It is well suited to those focused on PCI DSS compliance, such as organizations with the financial sector.
Benefits: Hillstone NIPS delivers robust protection by inspecting traffic in real-time, it integrates within your network to catch threats that perimeter solutions may miss.
The bottom line: Hillstone NIPS combines high-speed deep packet inspection with comprehensive threat detection and flexible deployment options.
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) is a comprehensive cloud-based firewall that detects and block advanced network threats in real-time.
How it works: ATP works inline, utilizing ML to detect threats in real time. It ingests information from Unit42, Palo Alto’s leading cyber threat research team.
Who it’s for: Large enterprises seeking robust, real-time protection against sophisticated cyber threats.
Benefits: Advanced Threat Prevention delivers real-time detection and blocking of unknown exploit attempts like command and control attacks.
The bottom line: Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention provides advanced detection capabilities and real-time threat prevention. It’s a valuable asset for enterprises concerned with addressing both emerging and existing cyber threats.
Snort is the leading open-source network intrusion detection and prevention system. It’s currently managed by Cisco, which acquired Sourcefire in 2013.
How it works: Snort is an open source network intrusion prevention system that can carry out real-time logging on IP networks. It analyses traffic based on library packet capture (libpcap) records, which are then checked against a database of known attacks to trigger real-time alerts if a threat is detected.
Who it’s for: Primarily suited for enterprises and security managers looking for an agnostic, open source IPS.
Benefits: Snort delivers real-time traffic analysis and packet logging, making it a useful tool for detecting and preventing network intrusions.
The bottom line: Snort acts as a versatile and reliable IDS/IPS. It is ideal for those seeking an open source, vendor agnostic IPS.
Trend Micro TippingPoint delivers a market leading Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) designed to detect and block attacks through machine learning-driven threat detection.
How it works: Trend Micro carries out on-box SSL inspection to reduce blind spots and identify a range of threats. It uses a combination of technologies on a flow-by-flow basis to address a full range of threats.
Who it’s for: Large enterprises and high-capacity networks requiring robust and scalable security solutions.
Benefits: Trend Micro TippingPoint excels in providing comprehensive IPS with effective threat detection and mitigation.
The bottom line: Trend Micro TippingPoint is a scalable, high-performance IPS, that delivers comprehensive threat visibility and adaptable deployment options. Its scalable, pay-as-you-go licensing model ensures cost efficiency and stability.
Zscaler Cloud IPS offers always-on, cloud-delivered intrusion prevention for enterprise security.
How it works: Zscaler carries out full TLS/SSL inspection, without affecting performance. This drives signature-based detection, policy-based detection, as well as anomaly-based detection.
Who it’s for: Best suited for enterprises seeking a scalable and integrated cloud security solution.
Benefits: Zscaler IPS delivers comprehensive threat protection for users, regardless of their location, with unlimited capacity.
The bottom line: Zscaler IPS stands out for its ability to provide robust, always-on threat protection with unlimited scalability and seamless updates.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are network security tools that constantly monitor and scan a network for any instances of malicious activity. When anything anomalous or malicious is found, the IPS solution will seek to resolve and remediate. It will then report, block, or drop actions in order to prevent malicious activity from taking place. IPS solutions seek to go one step further than their predecessors, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), which detect malicious activity and flag it with admins. IPS solution expand upon these capabilities by also taking direct action to combat the malicious activity that is detected.
These can be standalone products, but are also frequently an integrated feature of a next-generation firewall or unified threat management solution. These solutions help to defend against a wide variety of cyber threats, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, malware, SQL injection, and many other forms of malicious activity. An intrusion prevention system solution is deployed at the network gateway or endpoints, and serves as a protective mechanism to enhance the overall cybersecurity posture.
IPS solutions will be placed inline of network traffic, often sitting behind a firewall, to monitor traffic as it comes to and from its destination. Once the IPS has found anything it deems malicious, it can alert admins, drop packets, block traffic from the source address, or even reset the connection.
Various IPS solutions have different methods:
An effective IPS solution should provide users with a wide range of capabilities that are geared towards preventing advanced attacks and ensuring performance remains optimized. Some core features to look out for include:
Investing in an intrusion prevention system solution with these key capabilities will go a long way in providing comprehensive protection against evolving threats and ensuring your organization’s valuable data remains secured.
IPS solutions can offer additional security by working closely with other security tools (such as a firewall) to detect, identify, and flag threats that those tools can’t. It works by filtering out malicious or unwanted traffic before it reaches the destination device, meaning there is an overall reduced workload for devices and controls. This results in these tools operating more efficiently.
IPS solutions are often highly customizable, meaning that admins can tailor solutions for their unique business needs. With its ability to handle certain events and malicious activity by itself, IPS solutions can reduce workloads for IT teams. It is also a handy tool when it comes to auditing, with certain regulatory bodies requesting an IPS solution be put in place and due to the solution’s ability to produce auditing data.
There are a number of intrusion prevention solutions that can be deployed. Companies either choose one that will fit their needs or, if a more robust approach is required, use a blend of multiple. The different types of these systems all function slightly differently.
Host intrusion prevention system (HIPS): This system is installed as software directly onto an endpoint and can only analyze traffic and operate on that endpoint. It’s more frequently seen in conjunction with network intrusion prevention systems as HIPS can provide security against anything that may have evaded the network intrusion solution.
Network intrusion prevention system (NIPS): NIPS has a more overarching view and reach of network activity. It is placed at strategic points throughout the network and oversees all traffic that occurs within it.
Wireless intrusion prevention system (WIPS): Perhaps one of the more straightforward options listed here, a WIPS solution scans the Wi-Fi network for anything that has gained unauthorized access to the network before removing and blocking it.
Network behavior analysis (NBA): This system runs a deep analysis on incoming network traffic to find any anomalies within it, such as potential DDoS attacks which flood network traffic with requests to override the network and stop it from functioning temporarily.
Intrusion prevention systems are usually made up of either one or more techniques, each operating in a slightly different way, in order to catch as many anomalies in traffic as possible. The more common ones are:
Before intrusion prevention, there was intrusion detection. The monitoring of traffic was the same, but the intrusion detection system was much more passive in nature. As the name might imply, it could only analyze the flow of traffic and create reports to send to administrators, rather than offering any sort of preventative measure. Intrusion prevention is a newer invention that consolidates detection and prevention methods for a more robust, effective solution that has become the preferred option when it comes to creating a cybersecurity strategy.
Intrusion prevention systems are a critical component of a wider cybersecurity strategy and they’re particularly adept at preventing common yet serious cyberattacks. When configured correctly and as part of an enhanced security solution, intrusion prevention systems can prevent DDoS and DoS attacks, viruses, vulnerability exploits, and more. It’s especially important with cyberattacks ever on the increase. With DDoS attacks in particular, Cloudflare noted a staggering 95% increase in DDoS attacks at layer 3 in company networks in Q4 in 2021.
Part of intrusion prevention’s appeal also lies in the fact that all its processes are immediate and automated. It takes a considerable workload off over-stretched IT teams and saves time and money.
The solution comes with other benefits. Intrusion prevention systems include increased efficiency for other security measures; it reduces the load on other network security tools and the system itself doesn’t reduce network or app performance. It’s highly customizable and falls in with compliance regulations such as HIPAA and more.
It is worth noting that an IPS solution isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to network security. It is limited in function and security, but it is still highly valuable. It is best implemented alongside several other cybersecurity measures to enhance protection. While it was initially introduced as a standalone product shortly after its inception, nowadays it is more commonly seen as one part of a more comprehensive solution like UTM or a next-gen firewall.
Mirren McDade is a senior writer and journalist at Expert Insights, spending each day researching, writing, editing and publishing content, covering a variety of topics and solutions, and interviewing industry experts. She is an experienced copywriter with a background in a range of industries, including cloud business technologies, cloud security, information security and cyber security, and has conducted interviews with several industry experts. Mirren holds a First Class Honors degree in English from Edinburgh Napier University.
Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.