Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), jo ki Intrusion Detection and Prevention System ke naam se bhi jaana jata hai, ek network security application hai jo network ya system activities ko monitor karta hai taaki malicious activity ko detect kiya ja sake. IPS ka primary function malicious activity ko identify karna, uske baare mein information collect karna, report karna aur usse rokne ki koshish karna hota hai.

IPS ko Intrusion Detection System (IDS) ka extension mana jata hai, kyunki IDS aur IPS dono network traffic aur system activities ko monitor karte hain malicious activities ke liye. IPS real-time mein network traffic ko analyze karta hai aur agar koi suspicious activity detect hoti hai, toh woh usse block karne ki koshish karta hai.

IPS Kaise Kaam Karta Hai?

IPS network traffic ko real-time mein analyze karta hai aur isse known attack patterns aur signatures ke against compare karta hai. Jab system suspicious traffic detect karta hai, toh woh usse network mein entry hone se rokta hai.

IPS Ke Types:

1. Network-Based IPS (NIPS): Yeh network perimeter pe install hota hai aur network ke andar aur bahar jaane wale traffic ko monitor karta hai.

       --> Ek real-life example Network-Based IPS (NIPS) ka hai Snort. Snort ek open-source intrusion detection and prevention system hai jo network ke perimeter pe install hota hai. Yeh network traffic ko real-time mein monitor karta hai aur malicious activity detect karne ke liye rules aur signatures ka use karta hai.

Example: Agar koi hacker ek suspicious packet send karta hai, jisme malicious code ya exploit attempt ho sakta hai, to Snort us packet ko identify kar leta hai based on its signature. Agar packet legitimate nahi hai, toh Snort us packet ko drop kar dega, jisse attack ko prevent kiya ja sakta hai.

Is tarah se, NIPS jaise systems network ke andar aur bahar jaane wale traffic ko analyze karke unauthorized access, malware, ya other threats ko block karte hain aur network security ko ensure karte hain.

2. Host-Based IPS (HIPS): Yeh individual hosts pe install hota hai aur us host ke andar aur bahar jaane wale traffic ko monitor karta hai.

--> Ek real-life example Host-Based IPS (HIPS) ka hai OSSEC (Open Source Security). OSSEC ek host-based intrusion detection and prevention system hai jo individual hosts (jaise servers ya workstations) pe install hota hai. Yeh system host ke andar hone wali activities ko monitor karta hai, jaise file integrity checks, log analysis, aur rootkit detection.

Example: Maan lo ek user apne system pe malicious software download karta hai. Agar wo software system ke important files ko modify karne ki koshish karta hai, to OSSEC us file ke integrity ko check karega. Agar modification detect hota hai, OSSEC immediately alert bhejega ya attack ko prevent karne ke liye action le sakta hai, jaise system ko isolate karna ya suspicious process ko terminate karna.

HIPS system, jaise OSSEC, directly host par deploy hote hain aur unke internal processes aur communications ko monitor karke attacks ko rokne mein madad karte hain. Yeh network-based IPS (NIPS) se zyada focused hote hain individual machine pe.

IPS Kyun Zaroori Hai?

IPS network security ke liye ek zaroori tool hai. Yeh aapko kai benefits provide karta hai:

• Known aur Unknown Threats Se Protection: IPS known threats ko block kar sakta hai aur naye aur unknown threats ko bhi detect karke block karta hai.

• Real-Time Protection: IPS malicious traffic ko real-time mein detect karta hai aur usse block karta hai, taaki attack ko hone se pehle hi rok sake.

• Compliance Requirements: Kai industries mein regulations hain jo IPS ka use mandatory banate hain taaki sensitive information ko protect kiya ja sake.

• Cost-Effective: IPS security breach ke baad hone wale kharch se zyada cost-effective hota hai.

• Increased Network Visibility: IPS network ki activity ko monitor karta hai, jisse aapko apne network ke upar better visibility milti hai aur potential security risks ko identify kar sakte hain.

IPS Ki Classification:

IPS ko 4 types mein classify kiya jata hai:

1. Network-Based Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS): Yeh poore network ko monitor karta hai aur suspicious traffic ko analyze karta hai.

2. Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS): Yeh wireless network ko monitor karta hai aur wireless networking protocols ko analyze karta hai.

3. Network Behavior Analysis (NBA): Yeh network traffic ko analyze karta hai aur unusual traffic flows jaise DDoS attacks ya malware ko detect karta hai.

4. Host-Based Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS): Yeh ek specific host pe inbuilt software ke roop mein operate karta hai aur suspicious activities ko scan karta hai.

IPS Detection Methods:

1. Signature-Based Detection: Yeh method known attack patterns ko match karke malicious activities ko detect karta hai.

2. Statistical Anomaly-Based Detection: Yeh method network traffic ko baseline ke against compare karta hai aur jo traffic normal nahi hota, usse suspicious declare karta hai. Agar baseline properly configure nahi ho, toh false alarms generate ho sakte hain.

3. Stateful Protocol Analysis Detection: Yeh method protocols ke divergence ko detect karta hai aur predefined profiles ke against compare karta hai.

    "Samajh le ki tumhare paas ek game hai, aur tum har din us game ko khelte ho. Tumhe pata hai ki kis din game kaise chal raha hota hai, kis tarah se log khel rahe hote hain. Ab agar ek din koi achanak se game mein kuch alag ho jata hai, jaise koi galat move kar raha ho ya kuch naya ho, jo pehle nahi hota, toh tum samajh jaoge ki kuch alag ho raha hai."

Bas waise hi, yeh method jab kisi system ya computer pe kaam karta hai, toh yeh dekhta hai ki har din kaise cheezein chal rahi hain. Agar kuch unusual hota hai, jo normal se alag ho, toh yeh system usko detect karta hai aur uske baare mein batata hai.

Matlab, yeh system dheere dheere samajhta hai ki kya normal hai, aur jab kuch alag hota hai, toh wo usse notice kar leta hai.

IPS vs IDS:

IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) aur IDS (Intrusion Detection System) mein main farq yeh hai:

1. IPS (Intrusion Prevention System):

   • In-line hota hai: Yeh network ya host ke traffic ke beech mein hota hai, jaha se saara data pass hota hai.

   • Active action leta hai: Agar IPS ko koi suspicious activity milti hai, toh yeh actively rokta hai ya block karta hai. Yeh malicious packets ko drop kar sakta hai, connections ko reset kar sakta hai, ya offending IP address se traffic ko block kar sakta hai.

   • Data ko modify bhi kar sakta hai: IPS, cycle redundancy check (CRC) errors ko correct kar sakta hai, packet streams ko defragment kar sakta hai aur unwanted transport options ko clean kar sakta hai, taaki clean aur secure data flow ho.

2. IDS (Intrusion Detection System):

   • IDS traffic ko monitor karta hai, lekin yeh actively rokta nahi hai. Yeh sirf suspicious activity ko detect karta hai aur alert bhejta hai, par uske baad action lena system ke admin ya security team ka kaam hota hai.

Toh, IPS actively attack ko rokta hai jabki IDS sirf alert karta hai aur attack ko detect karta hai, par block nahi karta.

Conclusion:

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) network security strategy ka ek important component hai. Yeh network traffic ko real-time mein monitor karta hai, usse attack patterns aur signatures ke against compare karta hai aur malicious activity ya traffic ko block karta hai. IPS known aur unknown threats ke against protection provide karta hai, industry regulations ke saath compliance ensure karta hai aur network visibility ko improve karta hai. Apne network ko secure karne aur security breaches se bachne ke liye IPS ko implement karna zaroori hai.