Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are security tools designed to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activities within computer networks or systems.
Related terms
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): An advanced version of IDS that not only detects but also actively blocks and prevents unauthorized access or malicious activities.
Signature-based Detection: A method used by IDS to compare network traffic against known patterns or signatures of known attacks, helping identify and alert about potential threats.
Anomaly-based Detection: A technique used by IDS to establish a baseline of normal behavior within a network and then detect any deviations from that baseline, which may indicate suspicious activities.