---
title: Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
description: An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a security solution that monitors network traffic or system activities for malicious behavior or policy violations, alerting administrators to potential threats.
---

[Jericho Security | Glossary](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary)

# [Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Intrusion Detection System (IDS)](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/intrusion-detection-system)

 Written by [Jericho Security Team](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/author/jericho-security-team) | September 28, 2024

#### *Definition:*

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a security solution that monitors network traffic or system activities for malicious behavior or policy violations, alerting administrators to potential threats.

#### *Use Cases:*

- Used by organizations to detect potential cyberattacks, such as malware infections, DDoS attacks, or unauthorized access attempts.
- Applied in compliance frameworks to meet security monitoring requirements.

#### *Related Terms:*

- [Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/intrusion-prevention-system)
- [Firewall](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/firewall)
- [Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/security-information-and-event-management)
- Anomaly Detection

#### *Questions and Answers:*

- **What is the difference between an IDS and an IPS?**An IDS detects and alerts administrators to potential threats, while an IPS takes action to block or prevent the threat in real time.
- **How does an IDS detect malicious activity?**An IDS uses signature-based or anomaly-based detection techniques to identify malicious activity based on known attack patterns or deviations from normal behavior.
- **What are the limitations of an IDS?**An IDS can generate false positives, and it does not actively block threats, making it important to use in conjunction with other security tools.

[View full post](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/intrusion-detection-system)

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