Pros of a Rule-Based Threat Detection Approach:
- Simplicity and Clarity: Rules are easy to define, understand, and implement. For example, a rule like "block all traffic from IP 192.168.1.100" is straightforward.
- Predictable Outcomes: Since rules are explicitly set, the system's responses are consistent and predictable.
- Low False Positives (if well-tuned): Properly crafted rules can accurately detect known threats without flagging benign activity.
- Quick Deployment: Rules can be rapidly applied to address immediate threats (e.g., blocking a newly identified malicious IP).
Cons of a Rule-Based Threat Detection Approach:
- Limited Adaptability: Rules are static and require manual updates to address new or evolving threats. For instance, a rule blocking a specific malware signature won’t detect its variant.
- High Maintenance Overhead: Managing numerous rules becomes complex, especially in large environments. Incorrect rules may lead to gaps or excessive blocking.
- Reactive, Not Proactive: Rule-based systems primarily detect known threats, not zero-day or unknown attacks.
- Scalability Issues: As the number of rules grows, performance may degrade, and rule conflicts can arise.
Example: A company uses a rule to block all SSH login attempts from outside the corporate network. This prevents unauthorized access but also blocks legitimate remote admins using VPNs if the rule isn’t refined.
Tencent Cloud Recommendation: For hybrid threat detection, Tencent Cloud’s Host Security (HSM) and Cloud Firewall allow rule-based policies (e.g., IP blocking) alongside advanced AI-driven detection for unknown threats.