What is the primary purpose of an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

The primary purpose of an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is to block threats in real-time. An IPS actively monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and known threats. When it detects such activity, it can take immediate action, such as blocking access to certain IP addresses or even terminating a connection. This real-time response is critical for maintaining the security and integrity of a network, as it helps to prevent potential breaches before they can exploit vulnerabilities.

Other functions such as logging network traffic or analyzing data packets are often associated with network monitoring or analysis tools. While these actions are important for understanding traffic patterns and identifying potential security issues, they do not encompass the immediate protective capability that is central to the role of an IPS. Preventing unauthorized access is also an important security goal, but it is the proactive blocking of threats as they are identified that truly defines the function of an IPS.