Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

Which kind of attack can an intrusion prevention system enable?

1. Trojan horse type malware

2. Data exfiltration

3. Command and control

4. Denial of service

The correct answer is: Denial of service

An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is designed to identify and respond to various types of network attacks in real-time. One of the critical capabilities of an IPS is its ability to detect and block denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. These attacks aim to make services unavailable to legitimate users by overwhelming the system or network with a flood of traffic. When a denial-of-service attack is underway, the IPS can analyze the traffic patterns and take action to prevent the attack from succeeding, such as dropping malicious packets or blocking the offending IP addresses. This proactive approach helps ensure the availability and reliability of network services, making the IPS a vital component in defending against DoS attacks. Understanding that an IPS primarily focuses on identifying and mitigating threats in real-time contextualizes why it is particularly effective against denial-of-service attacks compared to the other options presented. While some of those attacks, such as command and control, may be relevant in other security contexts, the IPS specifically excels in minimizing service disruptions caused by DoS scenarios.