Tools / Cyber Security Interview Questions
What is the purpose of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?
An Intrusion Detection System monitors network or system activity for suspicious behavior and alerts administrators when it spots something matching a known attack pattern or unusual activity.
- Network-based IDS (NIDS) watches traffic flowing across a network segment
- Host-based IDS (HIDS) monitors activity on an individual machine, such as file changes or process behavior
An IDS only detects and alerts; it doesn't block traffic itself, which is the key distinction from an Intrusion Prevention System. That makes it useful for visibility and forensic investigation without risking false positives disrupting legitimate traffic.
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