How To Use McAfee IntruShield Network IPS Appliances

McAfee IntruShield network IPS appliance is a security equipment manufactured by McAfee, a large computer security company in the United States. The McAfee IntruShield network IPS appliance monitors your network and its system activities from malicious activities and Internet threats, thus enabling enterprises and business establishments to reduce the risks of having malfunctioning systems. Some threats that the IPS appliance can protect you from include spyware, Voice-over-IP (VoIP) vulnerabilities, malware, botnets, phishing, encrypted attacks, Trojans, network worms, peer-to-peer applications and the like. Because of all these benefits and protection, a lot of business networks ranging from small enterprises up to big established businesses use IPS appliances.

This article will teach you how to use your McAfee IntruShield Network IPS appliance.

* Buy your IntruShield IPS appliance. There are various IntruShield IPS appliances available in the market. Make sure to determine the network location that you will use the appliance for—if it is on the core, perimeter, or branch office, the requirements needed may vary for the stated locations. As a rule of thumb, small enterprises use the "Core" network location, while the bigger enterprises use the "Perimeter" and "Branch office" network location. These network locations carry on the performance throughout maximum concurrent connections and the like. Order your IntruShield IPS appliance through McAfee authorized distributors. You can check the McAfee website for the price listings. You can also visit EBay or Amazon for price comparisons. Make sure that your appliance is under warranty so you can protect yourself from future damages.
* Install the IPS appliance on your network system. The appliance should have a software installer. Insert the installer in your DVD-ROM and follow the installment procedure. The appliance also comes with a software support, use it whenever necessary.
* Connect the other computers in the IPS appliance. With the use of network cables, connect the network of computers in your IntruShield IPS appliance.
* Make use of the McAfee Foundstone for better assessment of threats. Since McAfee Foundstone has a real-time assessment of threat potentials, it can work alongside your IntruShield IPS appliance to further increase the protection of your system. It also fills the gaps of the information of the security program of your network. This, however, is optional.
* Make use of the various thread detection methods. Some methods of threat detection include protocol anomaly, signature application, shell-code detection algorithms, DoS and DDoS prevention. All these methods are used by your McAfee IntruShield network IPS appliance to ensure that your network is safe.
* Print logs and reports. In case your IntruShield IPS appliance has detected a threat, make sure to have it printed out so that you can account the issues that have occurred in your system and prevent them from occurring in the future.
There you have it; you now know how to use your McAfee IntruShield IPS appliance. With this appliance you are ensured to have an unparalleled protection, simplified operation and lifecycle protection, safeguarding you from any threat possible. Even though the IPS appliance can be expensive, just consider it as an investment for your business.