General Knowledge Quiz

An IDS is an application that monitors network traffic and searches for known threats and suspicious or malicious activity.
It sends alerts to IT and security teams when it detects any security risks and threats.
Some IDS solutions can take action when they detect anomalous activity, such as blocking malicious or suspicious traffic.

An intrusion is typically an attacker gaining unauthorized access to a device, network, or system.
Cyber criminals use increasingly sophisticated techniques and tactics to infiltrate organizations without being discovered, including:
- Address spoofing: Hiding the source of an attack using spoofed, misconfigured, and poorly secured proxy servers.
- Fragmentation: Enabling attackers to bypass organizations' detection systems by fragmenting packets.
- Pattern evasion: Adjusting attack architectures to avoid patterns that IDS solutions use to spot threats.
- Coordinated attack: Allocating numerous hosts or ports to different attackers, making it difficult for the IDS to work out what is happening.

Network intrusion detection system (NIDS): Monitor incoming and outgoing traffic at strategic points within an organization's network.
Host intrusion detection system (HIDS): Installed on individual devices to detect packets coming from inside the business and additional malicious traffic that a NIDS solution cannot detect.
Signature-based intrusion detection system (SIDS): Monitors all packets on an organization's network and compares them with attack signatures on a database of known threats.
Anomaly-based intrusion detection system (AIDS): Monitors traffic on a network and compares it with a predefined baseline of "normal" behavior to detect anomalous activity.
Perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS): Placed on a network to detect intrusion attempts at the perimeter of organizations' critical infrastructures.
Virtual machine-based intrusion detection system (VMIDS): Detects intrusions by monitoring virtual machines.
Stack-based intrusion detection system (SBIDS): Integrated into an organization's Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to watch packets as they move through the network.

IDS solutions monitor network traffic and detect anomalous activity.
They are placed at strategic locations across a network or on devices themselves to analyze network traffic and recognize signs of a potential attack.
IDS solutions work by looking for the signature of known attack types or detecting activity that deviates from a prescribed normal.
They then alert or report these anomalies and potentially malicious actions to administrators.

IDS solutions provide an extra layer of protection, making them a critical element of an effective cybersecurity strategy.
They help organizations understand risk, shape their security strategy, and achieve regulatory compliance.
IDS solutions provide faster response times, enabling organizations to detect and prevent attackers more quickly.

False alarms (false positives): IDS solutions may identify potential threats that are not a true risk to the organization.
False negatives: The IDS solution mistakes an actual security threat for legitimate traffic, allowing attackers to pass into the organization's network undetected.

IDS solutions monitor and detect known attacks and activity that deviates from a baseline normal.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) go beyond this by blocking or preventing security risks.
IPS solutions monitor networks for anomalies and malicious activity, then immediately record any threats and prevent the attack from doing damage.

IDS solutions are passive monitoring tools that identify possible threats and send out notifications to analysts.
Firewalls analyze metadata contained in network packets and decide whether to allow or prohibit traffic based on pre-established rules.
Firewalls create a barrier that stops certain traffic from crossing through, while IDS solutions focus on detecting and generating alerts about threats.

An IDS is an application that monitors network traffic and searches for known threats and suspicious or malicious activity.
It sends alerts to IT and security teams when it detects any security risks and threats.

Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS): monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to detect malicious and suspicious traffic.
Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS): installed on individual devices to detect packets from inside the business and additional malicious traffic.
Signature-based Intrusion Detection System (SIDS): monitors packets on a network and compares them with attack signatures on a database of known threats.
Anomaly-based Intrusion Detection System (AIDS): monitors traffic on a network and compares it with a predefined baseline of "normal" behavior.
Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS): detects intrusion attempts at the perimeter of organizations' critical infrastructures.
Virtual Machine-based Intrusion Detection System (VMIDS): detects intrusions by monitoring virtual machines.
Stack-based Intrusion Detection System (SBIDS): integrated into an organization's TCP/IP, monitoring packets as they move through the network.

IDS solutions excel in monitoring network traffic and detecting anomalous activity.
They are placed at strategic locations across a network or on devices to analyze network traffic and recognize signs of a potential attack.
IDS solutions work by looking for the signature of known attack types or detecting activity that deviates from a prescribed normal.

Understanding risk: IDS helps businesses understand the number of attacks being targeted at them and the type and level of sophistication of risks they face.
Shaping security strategy: IDS helps organizations establish and evolve a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
Regulatory compliance: IDS provides visibility on what is happening across networks, easing the process of meeting regulations.
Faster response times: IDS solutions initiate immediate alerts, allowing organizations to discover and prevent attackers more quickly.

False alarms: IDS solutions may identify potential threats that are not a true risk to the organization.
False negatives: IDS solutions may mistake an actual security threat for legitimate traffic.

IDS solutions are limited to monitoring and detection of known attacks and activity that deviates from a baseline normal.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) goes beyond IDS by blocking or preventing security risks.
IPS solutions help businesses take a more proactive cybersecurity approach and mitigate threats as soon as possible.

IDS: passive monitoring tools that identify possible threats and send out notifications to analysts.
Firewall: analyzes metadata contained in network packets and decides whether to allow or prohibit traffic into or out of the network based on pre-established rules.