Security Glossary

Definition

IDS

What is Intrusion Detection System?

An intrusion detection system monitors network or host activity for signs of an attack and raises alerts. It detects and reports, unlike an intrusion prevention system, which also blocks the traffic it flags.

A monitoring system that analyzes network traffic or host activity for signs of malicious behavior and generates alerts when suspicious patterns are detected. Network-based IDS (NIDS) monitors traffic across a network segment; host-based IDS (HIDS) monitors activity on individual endpoints. Unlike an IPS, an IDS is passive: it detects and reports threats but does not block them, making it a detective rather than a preventive control.