An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) and a firewall are both cybersecurity tools, but they serve different purposes.
A firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It acts as a barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. Firewalls primarily focus on blocking or allowing traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols.
Example: A firewall can block all incoming traffic on port 22 (SSH) to prevent unauthorized remote access.
An IDS (Intrusion Detection System), on the other hand, is a passive monitoring system that detects and alerts on suspicious or malicious activities within a network. It does not block traffic but instead analyzes network traffic or system logs to identify potential threats, such as malware, port scans, or unauthorized access attempts.
Example: An IDS can detect a brute-force login attempt on a server and generate an alert for the security team to investigate.
For enhanced network security, Tencent Cloud provides Tencent Cloud Host Security (CWP), which includes intrusion detection capabilities, and Tencent Cloud Network Security (NSFW), which offers firewall-like protection to safeguard cloud resources.