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By AMSAT Nov 18,2020

Challenges of Managing an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

IDS, an acronym for intrusion detection system, monitors network and system traffic for any suspicious activity and sends an alert once any possible threats have been recognized. The latest IDS software evaluates and detect designs indicative of an array of cyberattack types. A workable solution should be able to discover any threats before they fully penetrate the system.

Firewalls and anti-malware programs are only one minor part of an all-inclusive method to security. You need an IDS when a network increases, and unidentified or new devices frequently jump in and out. This software — usually combined with components designed to shield information systems as part of a broader security solution — should be able to capture snapshots of your entire system, using information of possible intrusions to effectively thwart them. A complete security solution also features authorization and authentication access control measures as part of its protection against invasion.

While this is the elementary function and purpose of an IDS, not all programs are created alike. Some allow you to enforce rules, which the program then employs to inform and perform certain actions and tasks, while others do not. Open-source IDS options are also available, which can vary considerably from closed source software, so it’s imperative to appreciate the nuances of an open-source network intrusion detection system before choosing it. The modern IDS software programs may comprise cutting-edge features, making it all the more important to consider the efficiency and output of these highly advanced components to your organization.

Challenges of Managing an IDS

There are three key challenges linked with managing intrusion detection software. At the time of choosing your IDS, always opt for a program that are able to reduce or cope with these challenges as much as possible.

Identifying false positives:
This is probably the key challenge that experts often face when managing an intrusion detection system. False positives can exert pressure on IT teams, who must update their IDS regularly, ensuring it has the required information to spot real threats and differentiate those threats from genuine traffic. This is an endless fight against false positives, which is long and laborious. If the IDS is not state-of-the-art and appropriately modified, which takes a great deal of time in and of itself, then more time is lost dealing with false positives.
A number of organizations use a secondary assessment platform, like a security incident and event manager, to help them evaluate and examine alerts in a more effective way. In principle, when an IDS causes an alert, it’s sent to the secondary analysis system, which helps cope with the problem of false positives.

Staffing:
The is the second most pressing issue. Appreciating the background of threats and wary activity is a very significant feature of IDS management. The broader context is changing almost daily, as threat actors strive to keep pace with security software. Moreover, every IDS is executed within the precise context of the business in question. To manage the intricacies of the business-centric context and the broader setting, having access to a well-informed and trained system analyst is very important. The IDS expert will modify the IDS to the context but finding someone who has the credentials and experience to do this efficiently is a difficult undertaking.
Spotting genuine risks:
False positives can be onerous and unwieldly but missing a genuine threat can be even worse. With an IDS, you should determine the nature of the attack to recognize and avert it. This is often referred to as the “patient zero” problem: someone has to fall sick before you can detect the disease in the future.

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