Intrusion Detection System Examples

​​What is the intrusion detection system?

Intrusion detection/prevention system software is a security mechanism employed to safeguard computer networks and systems from unauthorized access and malicious activity. Both IDS and IPS are commonly used as a first line of defense for many organizations. Intrusion detection techniques often include monitoring traffic, comparing traffic to a set of predefined rules or signatures, and then issuing alerts when traffic matches a malicious pattern.

Intrusion detection usually concentrates on identifying and reporting potential security breaches, while intrusion prevention seeks to actively block threats. Early detection of intrusions allows security teams to take action and minimize damage. This can involve isolating infected devices, blocking attackers, or launching incident response procedures.

What are the different types of intrusion detection systems?

There are two main types of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) based on their deployment and data source:

1. Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS): NIDS act as network monitoring devices deployed at strategic points within a computer network. Their primary function is to continuously capture and analyze network traffic data traversing a specific network segment. NIDS can be implemented in two primary ways:

• Dedicated hardware appliances: These are specialized devices solely designed to perform NIDS functions.
• Software applications on network servers: Existing network servers can be leveraged to host NIDS software, enabling them to perform network traffic analysis alongside other server functionalities.
  
  

NIDS typically utilizes network adapter promiscuous mode. This mode allows the NIDS to capture all network traffic on the attached network segment, regardless of its intended recipient. NIDS employs two main techniques for analyzing captured network traffic data: signature-based detection and anomaly-based detection.

2. Host-Based Intrusion Detection System (HIDS): In contrast to NIDS which focuses on network traffic analysis, HIDS provides security for individual devices (hosts) within the network. HIDS function as software agents deployed directly on the operating system of the host device itself. Their primary function is to monitor and analyze activity occurring on the host device. HIDS are deployed as software agents on individual servers, desktops, or laptops within the network. A single HIDS agent is typically installed on each host device for dedicated monitoring.

HIDS collects data from various sources on the host device, including:

• System logs: These logs record events and activities within the operating system of the host device.
• File access attempts: HIDS monitors attempts to access files on the host device, including successful and failed attempts.
• Running processes: HIDS maintains a record of processes currently running on the host device.

HIDS primarily utilizes anomaly-based detection techniques. By analyzing the collected data, HIDS establishes baselines for typical host activity. Significant deviations from these baselines, such as unusual file access attempts or unexpected processes running, can indicate potential intrusions or suspicious behavior.

What are the 3 types of intrusion detection systems?

The three types of intrusion detection systems based on detection methods are anomaly-based, signature-based, and hybrid. These methods define how the IDS analyzes data to identify potential intrusions.

1. Anomaly-Based IDS: Anomaly-based IDS focuses on identifying deviations from normal behavior within a network or system. It works by establishing a baseline for normal activity by statistically analyzing network traffic or system activity over time. This baseline becomes a reference for identifying anomalies. The IDS then continuously monitors network traffic or system activity and compares the real-time data to the established baselines. Significant deviations from these baselines are flagged as potential intrusions.
2. Signature-Based IDS: Signature-based IDS relies on a predefined database of attack signatures to identify malicious activity. These signatures represent known patterns or fingerprints of network attacks or suspicious system behavior. The IDS continuously monitors network traffic or system activity and compares this data against the database of attack signatures. Any matches trigger an alert, indicating a potential intrusion attempt.
3. Hybrid IDS: A hybrid intrusion detection system combines both anomaly-based and signature-based detection methods to address the limitations of each approach. A hybrid system leverages signature-based detection for known threats and anomaly-based detection for novel attacks. This enhances the overall effectiveness of intrusion detection.

Each of these three detection methods (anomaly-based, signature-based, hybrid) offers different strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the most suitable approach depends on factors like the specific security requirements of the network, the resource availability for managing the IDS, and the acceptable level of false positives.

It is also important to consider switching to a more advanced modern network security solution, such as network detection and response (NDR). The Stamus Security Platform (SSP) is a modern NDR solution that leverages the best from IDS technology without the same challenges faced by IDS users. 

What are the 5 components of an IDS?

Regardless of the IDS detection types, Intrusion detection system software can generally be broken down into 5 essential components that work together to detect suspicious activity:

1. Sensors (Data Acquisition Units): These modules function as the primary data collection mechanism for the IDS. They are deployed at strategic points within the network (network sensors) or on individual hosts (host-based sensors). Network sensors continuously capture and transmit network traffic data to the IDS for analysis. Host-based sensors monitor system activity on the device, including logs, file access attempts, and running processes.

2. Data Processing and Analysis Engine: The analysis engine is the core component responsible for evaluating data collected by the sensors. It employs various techniques to identify potential intrusions:

• Signature-based Detection: This approach involves matching captured data against a database of known attack signatures. These signatures represent characteristic patterns of malicious activity.
• Anomaly Detection: This technique involves employing statistical algorithms to establish baselines for normal network traffic or system activity. The engine then identifies significant deviations from these baselines as potential intrusions.
  
  

3. Alert Generation Engine: Upon detecting suspicious activity, the analysis engine triggers the alert generation engine. This engine is responsible for formulating alerts that include details of the suspected intrusion, such as the type of activity detected, its timestamp, and the source IP address. These alerts are then disseminated to:

• Security Personnel: For investigation and response actions.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) System: A central repository that aggregates security events from various sources, including IDS alerts, to facilitate a comprehensive view of security posture.
  
  

4. Management Interface: This software component provides a user interface for security administrators to interact with the IDS. It allows them to:

• Configure the IDS: This involves defining security rules for anomaly detection, managing sensor deployment, and establishing alert thresholds and destinations.
• Monitor System Activity: Security personnel can utilize the console to view real-time data on detected threats, analyze historical data, and investigate security incidents.
  
  *It is important to note that not all IDS software haa a management interface available*

5. Knowledge Base: The IDS maintains a repository of critical information for reference and analysis purposes. This knowledge base typically includes:

• Attack Signatures: A well-maintained database of known attack signatures that facilitates signature-based detection.
• Security Rules: Custom rules are defined by the security administrator to identify suspicious behavior specific to the organization's network or system.
• Alert History: A chronological record of all generated alerts, including timestamps, details of the detected activity, and the current investigation status.

What are the benefits of intrusion detection systems?

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) in cyber security offer several advantages in bolstering your network or system's security posture. Here are some key benefits:

• Early Warning and Improved Threat Detection: IDS continuously monitors for suspicious activity. By identifying potential intrusions early on, IDS provides valuable lead time for security personnel to investigate and respond before attackers can inflict significant damage. This can help prevent data breaches, unauthorized access attempts, and the spread of malware.
• Enhanced Security Visibility: IDS offers a broader view of security threats across your network or system. NIDS provides insights into network traffic patterns, helping to identify potential vulnerabilities and malicious activity targeting your network infrastructure. HIDS provides visibility into activities on individual devices, uncovering suspicious file access attempts or unauthorized program execution that might go unnoticed otherwise.
• Improved Incident Response: The early warnings and detailed information provided by IDS can significantly streamline incident response efforts. Security personnel can leverage IDS alerts to prioritize threats, expedite investigations, and take appropriate actions to contain and mitigate security incidents.
• Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Many industries and regulations mandate organizations to implement security measures for data protection. IDS can play a crucial role in demonstrating compliance with these regulations by providing audit trails and logs of detected security events.
• Defense-in-Depth Approach: IDS is a vital component of a layered security defense strategy. They complement other security measures like firewalls and access controls by providing an additional layer of intrusion detection and threat analysis. This layered approach strengthens your overall security posture and makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to your systems.
• Reduced Risk of Data Breaches: By proactively identifying and in some cases blocking threats, IDS can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches. Early detection allows you to isolate compromised systems and prevent attackers from exfiltrating sensitive data.

It's important to note that IDS are not foolproof. They can generate false positives and may not be able to detect all types of attacks. However, the benefits they offer in terms of early threat detection, improved visibility, and enhanced security response make them a valuable tool for any organization looking to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses.

What is the difference between IPS and IDS?

The difference between intrusion detection and prevention systems is that IPS actively blocks threats while IDS simply provides alerts. Both systems serve a purpose in an organization’s strategy and come with their own benefits and challenges.

• Intrusion Detection System (IDS): Intrusion detection system software continuously analyzes network traffic or system activity for suspicious patterns that might indicate an ongoing attack. These patterns can be identified through signature-based detection, which matches traffic against known attack signatures, or anomaly-based detection, which looks for deviations from regular behavior. Upon detecting suspicious activity, an IDS can raise alerts, log events, and provide valuable insights for security personnel to investigate and respond to potential threats.
• Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): An IPS extends the functionality of IDS by actively taking steps to prevent intrusions. Based on predefined security policies and identified threats, an IPS can block malicious traffic, terminate suspicious connections, or otherwise disrupt the attacker's progress. This can involve techniques like packet filtering, which blocks unwanted traffic based on pre-defined rules, or deep packet inspection, which examines the content of packets for malicious payloads. It is important to note that one of the challenges with IPS is the possibility of non-malicious traffic being blocked based on a “false positive”. 

What is an example of an intrusion prevention system?

No list of intrusion detection/prevention system examples is complete without mentioning Suricata.

Suricata is a free, open-source IDS/IPS cybersecurity tool that acts as both Intrusion Detection System (IDS) software and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). It is used by organizations all around the world to detect cyber threats and monitor networks for suspicious activity.

Suricata’s strength lies in its versatility. When tuned correctly, it is a high-performance tool that can handle large volumes of network traffic and generate vast amounts of network traffic data. It is also extremely flexible, offering deep analysis of various protocols and the ability to customize rule sets to fit your organization’s specific needs. Because it’s an open-source IDS/IPS, Suricata benefits from a large, active community that constantly develops and refines its capabilities.

To be used as an IPS, users simply need to configure Suricata to run in IPS mode during set-up.

Is a firewall an IPS or IDS?

A firewall is neither an IPS or an IDS, though the best intrusion detection systems can function in IPS mode to perform firewall capabilities. The main difference between a firewall and an IDS is that a firewall is simply a control mechanism, while an IDS actually detects and alerts on potentially malicious traffic. Firewalls enforce a set of predefined rules to permit or deny traffic flow based on characteristics like IP addresses, ports, protocols, or applications. It allows only authorized traffic through the network perimeter.

IDS is a monitoring and detection system. It analyzes network traffic for malicious activity or suspicious patterns that might indicate an ongoing attack. IDS doesn't directly block traffic but raises alerts for further investigation and potential response by security personnel. However, some IDS solutions, like Suricata, can be configured to function as an IPS. In this instance, the IPS actually can block traffic much like a firewall. Some organizations opt to use an IPS instead of a firewall, while others use a firewall and an IDS together.

Explore a modern alternative

IDS is undoubtedly a powerful and effective means to detect known threats on your organization’s network. Unfortunately, most IDS deployments are riddled with false positives, provide limited threat detection, and lack sufficient visibility into anomalous activity and subtle attack signals. Traditional IDS vendors have failed to innovate in ways that solve these challenges, leading to inefficient or downright ineffective threat detection.

You need a network security platform that doesn’t generate an endless stream of useless alerts across part of your network, and instead automatically identifies alerts of interest and notifies you of only serious and imminent threats. Your organization deserves response-ready detection with visibility into your entire network regardless of the environment with easy access to all the contextual evidence you need to stop an attack before it can cause damage. Replace your legacy IDS with a modern network detection and response platform that gives you these features and more.

The Stamus Security Platform™ is a network-based threat detection and response solution that eliminates the challenges of legacy IDS while lowering your response time. Stamus Security Platform harnesses the full potential of your network, bringing state-of-the-art threat detection, automated event triage, and unparalleled visibility to the security team.

Book a demo to see if Stamus Security Platform is right for your organization.