What does the term "intrusion prevention system" (IPS) refer to?

The term "intrusion prevention system" (IPS) refers to a network security technology specifically designed to detect and prevent threats in real-time. An IPS monitors network traffic, analyzing data packets to identify malicious activities or policy violations. When a threat is detected, it can take immediate actions, such as dropping the harmful packets or blocking the source of the attack, thereby preventing potential damage to the network or systems.

An IPS operates by utilizing a variety of techniques, including signature-based detection, anomaly detection, and stateful protocol analysis. This allows the system not only to recognize known threats but also to identify unusual behaviors that may indicate new or evolving threats.

In contrast, other options do not encompass the functionality or purpose of an IPS. Security protocols for user data primarily deal with the protection and confidentiality of data, while data encryption focuses on encoding data to prevent unauthorized access. A software for managing network bandwidth is concerned with optimizing the flow of data and does not address security threats directly. Thus, the accurate definition captures the critical role of IPS in safeguarding networks against intrusions.