Host-Based Intrusion Detection

This question asks if you have security software on each of your servers and computers that watches for signs of attack or compromise. It's like having a security sensor on each computer that alerts you when something suspicious happens, such as unusual file changes or unexpected system behavior. This is different from network monitoring because it watches what happens inside each individual system.

Host-based intrusion detection catches attacks that network security misses, especially insider threats and attacks using encrypted connections. Without it, attackers can operate freely once they compromise a single system. Enterprise customers require HIDS because it provides visibility into server-level attacks and helps meet compliance requirements. This capability is essential for detecting advanced threats that bypass perimeter defenses and can mean the difference between catching a breach in hours versus months.

Companies often claim they have HIDS when they only have basic antivirus or log collection without actual intrusion detection capabilities. Another mistake is deploying HIDS without connecting it to a central monitoring system or security team, making alerts useless because no one sees them. Some also fail to tune HIDS properly, resulting in alert fatigue from false positives.