WEB SECURITY ADVISOR
Evaluating and tuning an intrusion-detection system
Mike Chapple
08.12.2003
Rating: -2.90- (out of 5)
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The vast majority of intrusion-detection systems (IDS) available today allow system administrators some degree of flexibility in configuring the sensitivity of the system's detection and reporting algorithms. This presents a dilemma to diligent administrators: What is the proper balance between providing adequate intrusion detection and the possibility of overwhelming administrators with false reports?
The answer to this question is not an easy one. Indeed, there is no single answer that will apply to every situation or organization, as varying circumstances dictate different security postures. However, if you have a thorough understanding of the metrics used to evaluate these systems, you'll be more capable of determining an appropriate balance for your situation.
There are three main measures of IDS performance:
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93;Hopefully, these metrics have given you a good idea of how to properly evaluate an IDS. Keep in mind that there is no single solution suitable for every situation. You must carefully analyze your security requirements and determine the appropriate balance of false positive and false negative potential for your environment.
About the author
Mike Chapple, CISSP, currently serves as Chief Information Officer of the Brand Institute, a Miami-based marketing consultancy. He previously worked as an information security researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency. His publishing credits include the TICSA Training Guide from Que Publishing, the CISSP Study Guide from Sybex and the upcoming SANS GSEC Prep Guide from John Wiley. He's also the About.com Guide to Databases.
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