The Network Security. Org

While many vendors are avidly promoting host-based intrusion prevention systems for enterprise desktop protection, they don’t agree on what the technology consists of. Some offer traditional network-based IPS tools that are also regularly updated with viruslike signatures to combat the latest attacks. Others prefer advanced firewall techniques either desktop firewalls or memory firewalling. A few vendors focus on hardening the system so attacks can’t make an incursion into the application core or Windows registry. Another camp uses various system-scanning techniques to detect and isolate suspicious behavior.

"The HIPS goal is to allow or deny types of traffic and detect and block system behavior that is anomalous," says Pete Lind, an analyst at security consultancy Spire Security LLC in Malvern, Pa. "The most common activities being monitored are program executions, file system activity, registry reads/writes and network operations." What Is HIPS?

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