Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems: A Comprehensive Guide for Cybersecurity Professionals

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a detection technique used by an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

Port scanning

Answer

Signature-based

Answer

Anomaly-based

Answer

Heuristic-based

Question 2

**Distinguish** between an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) based on their primary functionality.

Accepted Answer

IPS can actively block attacks, while IDS can only alert

Answer

IDS is more expensive to implement than IPS

Answer

IPS requires more maintenance than IDS

Question 3

Explain the purpose of a signature database in an IDS/IPS.

Accepted Answer

To compare against incoming traffic and detect known attacks

Answer

To store user-defined rules

Answer

To generate alerts

Question 4

Identify a challenge associated with using anomaly-based IDS/IPS systems.

Accepted Answer

False positives due to normal behavior being mistaken for attacks

Answer

Difficulty in configuring

Answer

High cost of implementation

Question 5

Describe the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern IDS/IPS systems.

Accepted Answer

Enhancing detection accuracy and reducing false positives

Answer

Replacing human analysts

Answer

Increasing the complexity of configuration

Question 6

Define a honeypot in the context of IDS/IPS.

Accepted Answer

A decoy system designed to attract and monitor attackers

Answer

A software application that analyzes IDS/IPS logs

Answer

A device that generates IDS/IPS alerts

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of deploying an IDS/IPS?

Accepted Answer

Eliminating all security risks

Answer

Providing early warning of attacks

Answer

Enhancing forensic capabilities

Answer

Improving compliance with regulations

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a primary purpose of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)/Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

Enhancing network performance

Answer

Monitoring network traffic

Answer

Detecting unauthorized access

Answer

Preventing security breaches

Question 9

Which IDS detection method analyzes network traffic patterns to identify deviations from normal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Statistical anomaly detection

Answer

Signature-based detection

Answer

Heuristic-based detection

Answer

Protocol analysis

Question 10

What is a key advantage of using an IPS over an IDS?

Accepted Answer

Proactive prevention of security threats

Answer

Enhanced network visibility

Answer

Lower deployment cost

Answer

Reduced false positives

Question 11

Which of the following deployment strategies involves placing an IDS directly in the network path to monitor traffic?

Accepted Answer

In-line

Answer

Passive

Answer

Host-based

Answer

Network-based

Question 12

What is the primary function of a signature in signature-based IDS/IPS systems?

Accepted Answer

Matching known attack patterns in network traffic

Answer

Generating alerts for suspicious activity

Answer

Analyzing network traffic for anomalies

Question 13

Which of the following is a potential drawback of implementing an IPS in a network?

Accepted Answer

Increased network latency

Answer

Improved detection accuracy

Answer

Reduced false positives

Answer

Enhanced situational awareness

Question 14

What is the primary purpose of a honeynet?

Accepted Answer

To deceive and capture attackers by simulating a vulnerable network

Answer

To perform vulnerability assessments on a network

Answer

To detect and block malware in real-time

Answer

To monitor network traffic and identify anomalies

Question 15

Which of the following is a key responsibility of a Security Operations Center (SOC)?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring and responding to security incidents in a centralized manner

Answer

Providing security training to end-users

Answer

Developing and implementing security policies

Answer

Conducting regular security audits

Question 16

What is a key benefit of incorporating machine learning (ML) into IDS/IPS systems?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced detection accuracy and reduction in false positives

Answer

Identification of zero-day threats

Answer

Automated incident response

Question 17

Which of the following is considered a best practice for the effective operation of IDS/IPS systems?

Accepted Answer

Regular updates of signatures and rules

Answer

Disabling logging to enhance performance

Answer

Ignoring low-priority security alerts

Answer

Deploying multiple sensors on each network device

Question 18

Which of the following techniques is NOT used by attackers to evade Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

Denial of Service Attacks

Answer

Spoofing

Answer

Fragmentation

Answer

Port Hopping

Question 19

Which characteristic is associated with signature-based IDS?

Accepted Answer

Relies on predefined signatures

Answer

Detects previously unknown attacks

Answer

Provides context-aware analysis

Answer

Uses machine learning algorithms

Question 20

For monitoring network perimeters, which IDS deployment strategy is most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Network-Based IDS

Answer

Hybrid IDS

Answer

Cloud-Based IDS

Answer

Host-Based IDS

Question 21

Which advantage does an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) offer over an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

Provides automated response to identified threats

Answer

More comprehensive attack detection

Answer

Lower computational overhead

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a type of IPS blocking mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Encryption

Answer

Modifying Traffic

Answer

Resetting Connections

Answer

Dropping Packets

Question 23

When deploying an IDS in a production environment, which of the following is a best practice to minimize false positives?

Accepted Answer

Configure alerts appropriately

Answer

Set detection thresholds to the highest sensitivity level

Answer

Install the IDS on every network device

Answer

Disable all logging to improve system performance

Question 24

Using a signature-based IDS with outdated signatures can result in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Missed detections of known threats

Answer

Increased false positives

Answer

Enhanced forensic analysis capabilities

Answer

Reduced computational overhead

Question 25

What is the primary function of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

To identify and report suspicious activity on a network or system.

Answer

To prevent malicious code execution.

Answer

To manage user accounts and access privileges.

Answer

To block unauthorized access attempts.

Question 26

Which of the following is a common use case for an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

Blocking Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks

Answer

Enforcing access control policies for network resources.

Answer

Detecting malware infections on individual computers.

Answer

Analyzing network logs for security events.

Question 27

Which deployment mode allows an IPS to inspect both incoming and outgoing network traffic?

Accepted Answer

Inline mode

Answer

Promiscuous mode

Answer

Bridge mode

Answer

Passive mode

Question 28

What is the key difference between an IDS and an IPS in terms of their response capabilities?

Accepted Answer

An IDS only detects threats, while an IPS can also block or prevent them.

Answer

An IDS can prevent attacks, while an IPS only detects them.

Answer

Both IDS and IPS can detect and prevent threats.

Question 29

Which type of Intrusion Detection System (IDS) primarily analyzes network traffic for suspicious patterns?

Accepted Answer

Network IDS

Answer

Wireless IDS

Answer

Cloud IDS

Answer

Host-based IDS

Question 30

What is the core function of an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

To block unauthorized access to a system or network

Answer

To provide detailed reports on security events

Answer

To detect suspicious activities in a system or network

Answer

To monitor network traffic for malicious content

Question 31

Which of the following is a key benefit of deploying an IDS in a network?

Accepted Answer

Early detection of security breaches

Answer

Enhanced data privacy

Answer

Reduced bandwidth consumption

Answer

Improved network performance

Question 32

What is the key difference between signature-based and anomaly-based IDS?

Accepted Answer

Signature-based IDS detects known attack patterns, while anomaly-based IDS identifies deviations from normal behavior.

Answer

Anomaly-based IDS is more resource-intensive than signature-based IDS.

Answer

Signature-based IDS is more accurate than anomaly-based IDS.

Question 33

Which of the following is a recommended best practice for deploying an IDS in a production environment?

Accepted Answer

Configure alerts based on the organization's risk tolerance and security policies.

Answer

Deploy IDS on every network device for maximum coverage.

Answer

Ignore low-priority alerts to reduce alert fatigue.

Question 34

What is the primary objective of IDS and IPS within a cybersecurity framework?

Accepted Answer

To improve the overall security posture of an organization by detecting and preventing threats.

Answer

To detect and respond to every security threat in real-time.

Answer

To eliminate all security risks and vulnerabilities.

Question 35

Which of the following is a primary function of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

To identify unauthorized access or suspicious activity on a system or network

Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to a system or network

Answer

To automatically respond to security incidents

Question 36

Which of the following IDS sensor types monitors traffic passing through a specific network segment?

Accepted Answer

Network-based sensor

Answer

Application-based sensor

Answer

Host-based sensor

Answer

Log-based sensor

Question 37

What is the main difference between an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

IPS has the ability to block or prevent unauthorized access, while IDS can only detect and alert

Answer

IPS is typically more expensive to deploy than IDS

Answer

IDS operates in real-time, while IPS does not

Question 38

Which of the following is a key step in effectively deploying an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

Configuring the IPS to allow legitimate traffic while blocking or preventing malicious traffic

Answer

Disabling all network-based IDS sensors

Answer

Installing the IPS software on all user workstations

Question 39

What is a false positive in the context of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

An alert or notification generated by the IDS that incorrectly identifies legitimate activity as malicious

Answer

A type of IDS that monitors network traffic

Question 40

Which of the following is a common method used by attackers to evade detection by Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

Altering packet signatures or using encryption

Answer

Using zero-day exploits

Answer

Exploiting vulnerabilities in the IDS software

Answer

Sending malformed packets

Question 41

What is the role of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system in relation to Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

To collect, analyze, and correlate data from IDS and other security devices to provide a comprehensive view of security events

Answer

To automatically reconfigure IDS sensors based on real-time threat intelligence

Question 42

Which of the following is a benefit of using an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) with Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) capabilities?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced protection by both detecting and preventing unauthorized access

Answer

Reduced hardware costs as both functions are integrated

Answer

Increased flexibility due to separate deployment options

Question 43

What is a "honeynet" in the context of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)?

Accepted Answer

A decoy network designed to attract and monitor attackers, providing valuable information for threat analysis

Answer

A software tool used to scan for vulnerabilities

Question 44

Which of the following is a best practice for configuring an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)?

Accepted Answer

Creating custom signatures based on known vulnerabilities and threats

Answer

Allowing all traffic by default

Answer

Disabling the signature update feature