In cybersecurity, what does IDS stand for?

• A. Intrusion Detection System
• B. Information Defense System
• C. Integrated Data Security
• D. Internet Defense Service

Answer: (A)

An intrusion detection system monitors for unauthorized access and policy violations on a network or a specific host. It can be network-based or host-based, and it analyzes traffic and system events to spot suspicious activity, generating alerts and logs for security staff or a SIEM. It doesn’t block traffic by itself (that’s what an intrusion prevention system or firewall would do); instead it provides visibility and early warning.

The other terms aren’t standard names for this security concept, so they don’t describe the same function. Intrusion Detection System is the recognized term for a system that detects and alerts on potential intrusions.