An IPS helps stop network attacks that other security can miss, without IPS, your business may damage its brand and suffer costly security breaches.

The IPS is like an airport X-ray scanner, explains Holt. An IPS inspects all incoming (and outgoing) network traffic for malicious characteristics, and blocks and isolates suspicious activity. Subsequent traffic from the suspect Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or ports is also blocked, unless the IPS administrator allows it.

An IPS strengthens network protection against these threats:

• Unauthorized network access
• Data theft
• Denial-of-service attacks and other malicious activities