A network intrusion protection system (NIPS) is an umbrella term for a combination of hardware
and software systems that protect computer networks from unauthorized access and malicious
activity.
NIPS hardware may consist of a dedicated Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) device, an
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), or a combination of the two such as an Intrusion Prevention and
Detection System (IPDS). Note that while an NIDS can only detect intrusions, an IPS can
pro-actively stop an attack by following established rules, such as changing firewall settings,
blocking particular Internet protocol (IP)
addresses or dropping certain packets entirely. The software
components of an NIPS consists of various firewall, sniffer and antivirus tools in
addition to dashboards and other
data visualization
tools.
A NIPS continually monitors an organization's computer networks for abnormal traffic patterns,
generating event
logs, alerting system administrators to significant events and stopping potential intrusions
when possible. A NIPS is also useful for internal security auditing and providing documentation for
compliance
regulations. Spyware, viruses
and attacks continue to grow and it is now recognized that a layered combination of security
systems working together is necessary to protect computer networks from compromise. A NIPS in some
form is vital for any computer network that can be accessed by unauthorized persons. Computers
holding sensitive data always need protection; however, even seemingly insignificant networks can
be hijacked for use in botnet
attacks.
See also: HIDS/NIDS, intrusion protection, intrusion detection, Snort, Wireshark