What is the general purpose of intrusion prevention systems (IPS)?

The general purpose of intrusion prevention systems (IPS) is to actively block and prevent malicious traffic. An IPS functions as an integral part of network security by analyzing traffic flows for signs of threats or intrusions. When it detects potentially harmful activity, the IPS takes immediate action to stop that traffic from reaching its intended target—this can involve dropping malicious packets or resetting connections to halt the attack.

This proactive defense mechanism distinguishes IPS from other security solutions that might simply monitor or log activity without taking immediate action. Organizations deploy IPS as a crucial layer in their security architecture to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of their network resources. By automatically responding to threats, IPS helps to minimize the risk of threats successfully penetrating the network and causing damage or data breaches.