https://medium.

com/@networkdevicesinc/what-is-the-difference-between-
intrusion-prevention-system-ips-vs-firewalls-8f8b97585fb9
https://www.justfirewalls.com/what-is-an-intrusion-prevention-system/

A vulnerability is a weakness that can be exploited by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to

a computer system. After exploiting a vulnerability, a cyberattack can run malicious code, install
malware, and even steal sensitive data.

SQL injection (SQLi), cross-site

Common exploitation techniques include

scripting (XSS), and buffer overflow

Cybercriminals also use Open source exploit kits to find known vulnerabilities in web
applications

Common Types of Security Vulnerabilities

Network vulnerabilities— this category represents all hardware or software infrastructure

weaknesses that can allow cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access and cause harm.

Common examples include poorly-protected wireless access and misconfigured firewalls.

Operating system vulnerabilities— cybercriminals exploit these vulnerabilities to

harm devices running a particular operating system.

A common example includes a Denial of Service (DoS) attack that repeatedly sends fake requests to clog

an operating system until it becomes overloaded. Outdated and unpatched

software can also lead to operating system vulnerabilities.
Process (or procedural) vulnerabilities— occur when procedures placed to
act as security measures are insufficient. Common process vulnerabilities include authentication
weaknesses like weak passwords and broken authentication.

Human vulnerabilities— this category includes all user errors that can expose
hardware, sensitive data, and networks to cybercriminals. Human vulnerabilities arguably pose
the most critical threat, especially because of the increase in remote work. Common human
vulnerabilities include opening email attachments infected with malware or forgetting to install
software updates on mobile devices.

Here are common categories of security vulnerabilities to watch

out for:

 Broken authentication—
compromised authentication credentials allow cybercriminals to hijack user sessions and
steal identities to impersonate legitimate users.

 SQLi cybercriminals use SQL injections to gain unauthorized access to database content
using malicious code injection.

A successful SQL injection can allow a cybercriminal to engage in various malicious activities,
such as spoofing identities and stealing sensitive data.

 XSS
this technique injects malicious code into a website to target website users, putting sensitive
user information at risk of theft.

 Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)— these attacks

attempt to trick authenticated users into performing an action on behalf of a malicious actor.
Cybercriminals often use CSRF with social engineering to deceive users into unintentionally
providing them with personal data.

 XML external entity (XXE)— cybercriminals use XXE to attack

applications that can parse XML input. This attack exploits weakly configured XML parsers
containing XML code that can reference external entities.

 Server-side request forgery (SSRF)— these attacks allow

cybercriminals to make requests to domains using a vulnerable server. They force the server to
connect back to itself, an internal resource or service, or to the server’s cloud provider.
  Security misconfigurations— can include any security
component that cybercriminals can exploit. These configuration errors allow cybercriminals to
bypass security measures.

 Command injection— cybercriminals use command injection to exploit a

vulnerable application to execute arbitrary commands on the host operating system. These
attacks typically target a vulnerable application’s privileges.

Intrusion Prevention System IPS is a network security/threat prevention

technology that examines network traffic flows to detect and prevent vulnerability
exploits.
Vulnerability exploits usually come in the form of malicious inputs to a target
application or service that attackers use to interrupt and gain control of an
application or machine.
Following a successful exploit, the attacker can disable the target application
(resulting in a denial-of-service state), or can potentially access all the rights and
permissions available to the compromised application.

Firewalls, both next generation firewall and traditional, are now almost
traditionally considered as the first line of defense against the different malicious
attacks. They filter based on different attributes of the traffic. Those attributes can
be limited to information contained in the Layer 3 and 4 of the IP header.
They can be even extended up to the information found at layer 7.
Depending on the generation of the Firewall, it can even go beyond that to inspect
the payload. But once the packet passed the firewall into the trusted network
undetected, maybe riding on top of another legitimate protocol like HTTP,
the malicious content inside that packet may get the freedom required to fulfill its
malicious goals.
Here comes the role of the Intrusion Prevention System IPS. This system will add those extra
features:

1. Signature-based detection
2. Anomaly-based detection
3. Rule-based detection
4. Visibility
5. Contextual Awareness (NGIPS)
6. Content Awareness (NGIPS)
7. Application and User Awareness (NGIPS)
8. Integration with Sandboxing analysis (NGIPS)

Considering all of these great attributes, should we replace Firewalls with Intrusion Prevention Systems?

The answer is no. The reason follows. Intrusion

Prevention System IPS
applies more checks on the passing traffic and places those
checks directly in front of suspicious networks. That can easily
overwhelm the IPS system.
The best option is to place the Intrusion Prevention System IPS behind the firewall. This way,
you will do the filtering but also secure only legitimate traffic passes to the Intrusion
Prevention System for further investigation.

What is a Firewall?

It is a network security device that watches and screens incoming and outgoing
web traffic. Its primary purpose is to block unauthorized access while permitting
authorized communications. It does this by analyzing network packet source and
destination addresses and comparing them to a set of rules.

A Firewall
works by examining each packet of data entering or leaving the network and comparing it to predefined
rules. If the packet matches the rule, it can pass through; if it doesn’t, it is blocked. Firewalls can also be
configured to log the blocked packets, allowing administrators to identify and address potential threats.
Firewalls have several strengths, including:

 Effective in blocking known threats.

 They can be configured to block specific types of traffic, such as peer-to-peer
file sharing or instant messaging.
 Easy to implement and manage.
 They can be used to enforce company security policies.

IMPORTANT:‫ عيوبه اللي خلتني استخدم ال‬IPS ‫معاه‬

Despite their effectiveness, firewalls have certain limitations, including:

 Cannot detect new or unknown threats.

 Can be bypassed by sophisticated attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in the network
or the firewall itself.
 They do not provide detailed information on the type or source of the threat.

What is an IDS?

An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a tool or software application that watches a network or
system for malicious activity or policy violations. It identifies potential security breaches by
analyzing system activity and detecting unusual patterns or anomalies.

How does an IDS Work?

An IDS analyzes the network traffic and looks for patterns that indicate a potential attack. It can
also monitor system logs and audit trails for suspicious activities. When it notices a possible
danger, it warns the administrator, who can take appropriate action to prevent the attack.

Strengths

IDS has several strengths, including:

 Detect both known and unknown threats.

 Provide more detailed information on the type and source of the attack.
 Configured to monitor specific types of traffic or applications.
 Used to detect insider threats or policy violations.

Limitations

Despite its strengths, IDS also has certain limitations, including:

 Generate false positives, leading to unnecessary alerts and additional

administrative workload.
 Can be resource-intensive, requiring constant monitoring and analysis
of network traffic.
 May not be effective against sophisticated attacks that use encryption or
other advanced techniques to evade detection.
What is an IPS?

Intrusion Prevention System or IPS, is a security system that detects and

prevents potential cyber threats by analyzing network traffic

. It operates at the network layer and can be hardware or software-based,

and its primary purpose is to identify and block malicious traffic before
it can cause harm to the network or system.

‫مهم‬
How Does an IPS Work?

An IPS analyzes network traffic in real-time using various techniques such as

signature-based detection, behavioral analysis, and anomaly detection.

It identifies potential threats and can take actions such as blocking traffic, alerting
system administrators, or terminating the connection.

Strengths

 Real-time protection against various types of cyber threats

 Comprehensive protection for the network or system
 Automatic response to potential threats
 Learning ability to improve detection accuracy and reduce false
positives

Limitations

 High cost to implement and maintain

 Potential for generating false positives
 Impact on network performance due to traffic analysis
Firewall Vs. IDS Vs. IPS:
Function

The basic role of a firewall is to monitor and control traffic based on predefined security rules.
On the other hand, an IDS is designed to detect and alert you of potential threats in real-time, and
an IPS not only detects threats but takes action to prevent them.

Placement

A firewall is placed at the network perimeter, an IDS is placed on the internal network, and an
IPS can be placed in either location.

Traffic Filtering

A firewall filters traffic based on predefined rules, while an IDS and IPS can analyze traffic
behavior and take action accordingly.

Attack Prevention

A firewall cannot prevent attacks, while an IDS can detect them in real time and alert you. An
IPS goes beyond detection and takes action to prevent them. It can block traffic, modify it, or
even alert the system administrator to take the necessary steps.

Performance Impact

Firewalls have a minimal impact on network performance, while IDS and IPS systems can
significantly impact depending on their complexity.

Deployment

A firewall is relatively easy to deploy and manage, while IDS and IPS systems require more
effort and expertise to deploy and maintain.

An IPS in a firewall complements its capabilities, providing additional protection against cyber
threats.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between the firewall and IDS/IPS is crucial for implementing a
strong network security strategy. While firewalls act as a barrier to block unauthorized access to
a network, IDS/IPS provide deeper inspection and detection of potential security threats by
monitoring network activity.
What is An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)? Why Every Network
Needs a Firewall Failsafe.

Thankfully, most companies now understand that if you want to use the internet safely, you need
a few things in your toolkit: a powerful, modern firewall; enterprise-grade antivirus coverage;
and a smart team to pre-empt potential IT security problems. These three factors are widely
accepted as “must haves”.

However, there is another factor that often gets overlooked…

A feature that can detect incoming hacking attempts, malware, and other more dynamic, evasive
threats…

A system that should sit behind any enterprise-level firewall…

In this article, we’ll answer the question, “What is an Intrusion Prevention System?”, commonly
known as an IPS.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

An IPS or Intrusion Prevention System is a software module that actively inspects

incoming and internal network traffic for potential threats like hacking attempts and
malicious code.

If it detects in real time that a particular traffic flow is potentially dangerous, then those data
packets are blocked or dropped – either way, they’re denied entry.

An Intrusion Prevention System sits as an extra vital layer of protection for your users.
What Threats Do IPSs Protect Against?

The exact threats that an IPS can detect and prevent will naturally differ between specific
solutions, but on the whole, IPSs are built to prevent malicious activity such as:

 Hacking Attempts: Hackers can try and make their way into a network for all kinds of nefarious
ends – be it to steal data, carry out corporate espionage, perform reconnaissance for a future
attack, spread malware, the list goes on!
 Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: In this kind of attack, the hacker floods a server or system with
access requests. The swamped system becomes sluggish, unusable, and unstable. If the asset
they target is particularly business-critical, then business will likely also slow to a crawl too.
 Malware & Exploits: IPSs also scan traffic for known malware threats, monitor the network for
known nefarious traffic patterns, and uphold pre-existing security policies.
 Data Theft & Breaches: Many high-end Prevention Systems can actively block data from leaking
from a single device en masse. Some even include DLP (data loss protection) capabilities that can
identify that sensitive data is in transit and stop it from leaving the network.
How do IPSs Work?

Intrusion Prevention Systems operate by employing three methods of detection:

 Signature-Based Detection: The IPS refers to global databases of known network and IT security
threats to identify malicious packets and traffic patterns moving into or around the network. It
can then step in and stop known threats from moving further.
 Anomaly-Based Detection: This is essential for identifying newer threats, or those that behave
more dynamically, as they’re less likely to appear in a signature database. To achieve this, the IPS
continually observes the network and establishes what “normal” behaviour patterns and traffic
flows look like. When the Intrusion Prevention System observes potentially threatening activity
that goes against the norm, it steps in and takes remedial action.
 Policy-Based Detection: This is when a network’s technicians set custom rules for network
behaviour and security policies. If a particular threat comes up time and time again, it may be
worth setting it as a manual policy rule within the IPS.

Many modern IPSs and firewalls utilise some level of DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) to “unpack”
data packets as they come in to make sure nothing dangerous is lurking within.

What’s the difference between an IPS and an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?
You may have heard about a similar kind of system called an IDS or an Intrusion Detection
System. The two systems are very similar but IPS is a newer, more proactive concept.

Both IDS and IPS can sit within the firewall and inspect traffic as it comes in, and nowadays
both usually monitor outgoing traffic too.

However, the difference lies in what they do once a threat is detected – and there’s a clue in their
names.

Intrusion Detection Systems merely detect these threats and alert a technician to intervene.
Intrusion Prevention Systems, however, actively and independently stop potentially dangerous
traffic from travelling into/around your network rather than merely shouting for help!

What is a Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS)?

The growing reliance on wireless networking brings with it its own benefits – and its own ways
for hackers to interfere.

Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems consistently monitor the Wi-Fi radio frequencies within
your network’s range for unauthorised activity. WIPS can detect “evil twin” access points
pretending to be your network, unknown access points operating within range, and can block
your team’s access to neighbouring Wi-Fi networks that may pose a threat.

WIPS functionality is usually administered through WIPS-enabled Wi-Fi access points that both
provide wireless coverage and scan the airwaves for hidden dangers.

If you use both wired and wireless networking, we’d advise investing in both an IPS and a WIPS
as they defend against very different security issues.

Related Reading: 7 Enterprise Wi-Fi Risks You Need to Know About Today

So a Firewall Alone Isn’t Enough?

Alas, not really.

Though firewalls are essential for any enterprise-level network, their functionality is often a little
robotic – especially if the device is older.

Firewalls can inspect and filter based on numerous factors about incoming data packets – ports,
protocols, packet headers, the packet’s source, its intended destination, and so on.
Though these checks are important, this limited remit often leaves firewalls unable to detect
more dynamic threats that comprise a malware exploit or hacking attempt.

In these cases, protocols, packet headers, destinations, etc. may appear totally safe as far as the
firewall’s rules are concerned, but could actually pack a hidden punch.

Additionally, firewalls are only concerned with incoming and outgoing traffic, whereas many
Intrusion Prevention Systems can identify issues as they travel around the network too.

Some older firewalls also suffer limited oversight over web applications, which can result in
exploits creeping in unnoticed.