Installing and using an intrusion detection system software for businesses is a must-have for your network infrastructure. You most likely have firewalls set up to guard your network against attacks from the Internet. While firewalls are great to have, an intrusion detection system software is proactive in that it analyzes for suspicious behavior and can alert you.

If you’re serious about your network’s security, then you must implement an intrusion detection software in your infrastructure. Intrusion detection system software can come in 2 versions: NIDS (network-based IDs) and HIDS (host IDs). Network intrusion detection software enables you to manage your network in general. The host-based intrusion detection software allows you to monitor application servers. Security experts recommend that you install both versions in your network. When searching for intrusion detection software, do the following:

1. Ensure the intrusion detection system consists of several layers of inspection filters.

2. Consider hiring a network monitoring company to manage your intrusion detection system.

3. Look for good technical support from an intrusion detection system company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make sure your intrusion detection software for businesses has several layers of inspection filters

In order for your firewall intrusion detection software to be effective, you must make sure that it has these functions. The first layer of the firewall intrusion detection software must automatically be able to unload any packet from the inspection pool that is safe. It's important that each descending layer of your intrusion protection software can tweak the traffic and only evaluate the suspicious packets with the signature database.

I recommend: SourceFire’s product enables you to customize and configure your intrusion detection system on how you want it to reply to attacks, including sending automated alerts or blocking threats. It can analyze your network traffic for potential attacks and produce reports. SecurityMetrics has an appliance that consists of both hardware and software that scrutinizes your network traffic and thwarts attacks 24/7.

Outsource your intrusion detection system software to a network monitoring company

You may have a knowledgeable staff, but they may not have the time to monitor the network for these attacks. An intrusion detection system can disclose information that can be overwhelming. You may not have the staff to be able to decipher all of this information. An intrusion protection software company can monitor your traffic and provide you with reports and charts.

I recommend: Protiviti designs architectures that captures activity logs and sends out anomaly alerts. You’ll also want to look at WebDog Security Systems’ website. Its security professionals will monitor your network traffic continuously. The great thing about WebDog Security Systems is that it does not have to install its software on your web servers.

Get technical support from a reliable intrusion detection software company

You want to have excellent technical support from an intrusion software company. You also want to make sure that the intrusion software company provides automatic updates. Having the intrusion prevention software set up to automatically download on your hardware devices saves your network staff time and effort.

I recommend: Check out Numara Software, Inc.’s website. You can sign up for a 1–year maintenance plan, which in turn, entitles you to extended technical support hours, updates, and upgrades. Top Layer Networks also offers 24/7 emergency telephone technical support if you have a contract.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Store all of your reports, charts, and graphs of your network in a software tool like SharePoint. Keep all your papers on intrusion detection together.