Network Security: 3. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

An Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) is a network monitoring solution that actively detects and responds to threats within a network.
An IDPS monitors network traffic for suspicious or malicious behavior.
It combines both passive monitoring (observing traffic) and active blocking (taking action against flagged threats).
Unlike an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), an IDPS not only alerts about threats but also attempts to remediate them.
In the context of PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), organizations must implement Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) to enhance security. Here are the key points related to IDPS and PCI DSS compliance:
Purpose of IDPS:
IDS: Monitors network traffic for suspicious or malicious behavior. It alerts when it detects potential threats.
IPS: Similar to IDS but can actively block or prevent identified threats.
PCI DSS Requirement 11.4:
Organizations must:
Use IDS or IPS to detect or prevent network intrusions.
Monitor all traffic at critical points within the cardholder data environment (CDE).
Keep intrusion detection and prevention engines, baselines, and signatures up to date.
Effective Implementation:
Install IDS/IPS around your network and at critical points in the CDE.
Ensure proper management, updates, and organization of IDS/IPS definitions.
By adhering to these requirements, organizations can proactively detect and respond to unauthorized activity, safeguarding sensitive payment card information
In summary, IDPS plays a crucial role in network security by actively monitoring and responding to threats.
Resources and Useful links:
Snort - Network Intrusion Detection & Prevention System
www.snort.org/
Home - Suricata
suricata.io/
Secure Client (including AnyConnect) - Cisco
www.cisco.com/site/us/en/prod...
strongSwan - IPsec VPN for Linux, Android, FreeBSD, macOS, Windows
www.strongswan.org/
Cisco Firepower 1000 Series Firewall - Cisco
www.cisco.com/site/us/en/prod...
Snort Setup Guides for Emerging Threats Prevention
www.snort.org/documents
Suricata User Guide - Suricata 8.0.0-dev documentation
docs.suricata.io/en/latest/
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual - Configuration Guides - Cisco
www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support...
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:10 - IDPS
0:52 - Best Practice
01:25 - Key takeaways
02:42 - Pros. and Cons.
03:15 - Solutions and Tutorials