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

The primary focus of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is to monitor and alert on suspicious activities within a network. By continuously analyzing traffic and system behaviors, an IDS can identify potential security breaches, unauthorized access attempts, or anomalous patterns that suggest a malicious activity. When a potential threat is detected, the IDS generates alerts to inform network administrators, allowing them to take appropriate actions to mitigate risks.

This capability to monitor and respond to real-time threats is critical for maintaining the security posture of an organization. While some systems may incorporate features for prevention or backup, the fundamental role of an IDS centers on detection and alerting of intrusion attempts rather than actively thwarting attacks or managing data integrity.