What is the primary function of an Intrusion Prevention System?

The primary function of an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is to prevent unauthorized access to network resources and systems. An IPS actively analyzes and monitors traffic patterns, identifying and stopping potential threats in real-time. When a threat is detected, such as an attempted intrusion or malicious activity, the IPS can take immediate actions to block the attack, making it a proactive security measure.

While monitoring network traffic for alerts is a function associated with an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which identifies potential threats but does not take action, the IPS builds upon this capability by also intervening to prevent unauthorized access. Securing the operating system and encrypting data in transit are important security measures but do not fall directly under the core functionality of an IPS, which is focused on threat prevention.