Where is a Network IPS (NIPS) typically deployed?

A Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS) is typically deployed at the perimeter of a network, directly in front of a firewall. This strategic location allows the NIPS to monitor and analyze the network traffic entering and exiting the network boundary. By being positioned before additional security measures like firewalls, it can proactively identify and block potentially malicious traffic before it reaches critical internal resources.

Furthermore, NIPS can play a vital role in a layered security approach, where multiple defense strategies are employed to enhance overall network security. This deployment location is essential for effectively detecting and mitigating threats such as unauthorized access attempts and various types of network attacks, which may not be adequately handled by firewalls alone.

Other potential deployment options, such as inside a secure zone or on end-user devices, do not offer the same level of protection at the network boundary, where attacks are most likely to occur as they attempt to penetrate the internal network. Additionally, while NIPS can be found in cloud environments, its primary and traditional deployment model is focused on on-premises network perimeters.