Intrusion Detection Software—Network IDS Security

Intrusion detection software, which includes network intrusion detection system (NIDS), can monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and violations of security policies and generate alerts if it detects malicious activity. These intrusion detection systems (IDSs) help shore up network security by analyzing traffic passing through strategic network points and subnets for signs of known cyberattack vectors.

Unlike firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (IPSs) that are designed to proactively prevent cyberthreats from contacting the network, network intrusion detection system software works passively. As a detection-based software, network IDS monitors for and detects anomalous, malicious, or otherwise noteworthy traffic and sends alerts about its findings but doesn’t prevent the traffic in question from reaching its intended destination.

IDS security systems are vital in modern IT security, as they can monitor traffic, detect suspicious activities, and identify policy violations or cyberattack patterns. They can generate real-time alerts, allowing users to quickly respond to threats.

There are two primary types of intrusion detection software.

• Signature-based threat detection systems: These systems scan traffic for known threats and intrusion event patterns. Since attackers often work around signature-based IDSs by making small alterations to threat intrusion patterns, signature-based IDS software is most effective as part of a comprehensive security lineup than a standalone product.
• Anomaly detection systems: These systems examine network traffic for unknown, novel attack vectors that signature-based systems can’t identify. Anomaly-based IDSs can leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to rapidly compare traffic against trusted network behavior, enabling the software to identify unusual activity and outliers more efficiently.

IDS security systems provide critical visibility into inbound and outbound network traffic by alerting admins of malicious signatures, intrusion patterns, or anomalous activity. This enables technicians to investigate possible threats immediately and prevent or mitigate the damage of cyberattacks.

Unfortunately, all networks are penetrable, and a comprehensive set of security tools, including firewalls, anti-virus software, and IDS and IPS systems, is vital to fending off and catching malicious activity. As cyberattackers devise new attack vectors and methods to exploit potential weaknesses or gaps in network defenses, increasingly sophisticated security systems are essential.

Beyond monitoring network traffic and correlating event sequences for advanced threat detection, SEM scans USB devices and inbound and outbound files for signs of malicious alterations. It routinely checks the network file system for data integrity and suspicious activity.

The SEM signature databases are regularly updated for better protection against newly identified botnets and other cyberattacks. SEM can automatically take action after identifying intrusion events with no additional coding or customized scripts, giving you time to determine an appropriate response.

Some configurable actions include:

• Sending notifications via many channels
• Suspending or expelling user accounts responsible for malicious activity
• Blocking IP addresses
• Killing processes
• Triggering shutdowns and restarts for affected systems and services
• Isolating suspicious USB devices

SEM offers many network security functions and can integrate with event log files collected from other system infrastructures, offering a holistic approach to intrusion detection and prevention.

There are several types of intrusion detection and prevention systems. Each type plays a distinct role in comprehensive security, protecting devices, networks, and wireless environments from evolving cyberthreats.

Types of IPSs include:

• Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDSs): HIDSs monitor individual devices or hosts. They can analyze system logs, file integrity, and processes to identify suspicious activity, such as unauthorized access or file modifications.
• Network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs): NIDSs can examine traffic across an entire network. They can analyze data packets for malicious activity and effectively detect large-scale threats, such as DDoS attacks or network breaches.
• Protocol-based intrusion detection systems (PIDSs): PIDSs focus on analyzing the HTTP or HTTPS protocol stream between user devices and the server. Essentially, they monitor inbound and outbound traffic on your web server.
• Application protocol-based intrusion detection systems (APIDSs): APIDSs monitor communications between applications and servers to detect intrusions.

To make the most out of your intrusion detection software, you will want to follow intrusion detection and prevention system best practices. You should:

• Strategically deploy your system: Position your intrusion detection systems at critical network points for optimal coverage.
• Determine a baseline: Establish a baseline of normal network behavior early on. This will allow you and your IDS software to more easily and accurately identify anomalies and minimize false positives.
• Customize rules: Tailor detection rules and thresholds to align with your organization’s specific security policies and needs.
• Form an incident response plan: Develop and test a clear plan for responding to IDS alerts that includes how you will contain threats and what you will do to recover.
• Integrate with other tools: Don’t rely only on intrusion detection and prevention systems. You can combine your IDS intrusion detection system with SEM tools, firewalls, access control systems, and more for a more thorough security approach.

Other SolarWinds tools to help detect intrusion attacks, include:

• Access Rights Manager
• Identity Monitor
• SolarWinds Observability Self-Hosted and Security Observability

Related features:

• User Activity Monitoring
• Threat Prevention
• Threat Detection
• Security Orchestration and Automation
• Audit Logon Events