What capability does an intrusion prevention system (IPS) provide?

An intrusion prevention system (IPS) provides the critical function of monitoring network traffic and automatically blocking unauthorized access attempts. This capability is essential for maintaining the security of a network, as it not only identifies potential threats but also takes immediate action to prevent those threats from causing harm.

By actively blocking attacks in real-time, an IPS protects systems and networks from intrusions, exploiting vulnerabilities, and potential data breaches. This proactive measure is vital in today’s cyber threat landscape, where attackers continually evolve their methods. The ability to respond automatically to suspected threats ensures that organizations can mitigate risks before they escalate into significant incidents.

While some other options mention capabilities related to security, they do not encompass the full scope of what an IPS does. For example, simply detecting unauthorized access attempts is a passive function and does not include the active measures of prevention. Similarly, scanning emails for viruses relates more to email security solutions rather than the core functions of an IPS, and deep packet inspection, although a feature of many IPS systems, does not fully capture the essential prevention capability that defines its purpose.