ntopng is not typically classified as an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in the traditional sense, but it does have some features that overlap with IDS functionalities. Let me explain the differences and how ntopng might serve a similar role:
What is ntopng?
ntopng is an open-source network traffic monitoring tool that provides visibility into network traffic and performance. It is primarily used for:
- Network Monitoring: Tracking traffic flows, bandwidth usage, and the behaviour of network devices.
- Traffic Analysis: Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) based on nDPI to analyse protocols, applications, and performance.
- Real-time Visualisation: Giving insights into network traffic in real-time, including hosts, flows, and application usage.
While ntopng offers valuable data for monitoring and performance management, it lacks many of the core features of a dedicated IDS, such as signature-based attack detection or active prevention mechanisms.
Why ntopng is not a traditional IDS:
- No Signature-Based Detection: Traditional IDS tools like Snort or Suricata work by comparing network traffic against a database of attack signatures. They detect known attacks like malware, port scanning, or exploit attempts by matching traffic patterns. ntopng does not have such a signature database.
- Limited Focus on Security Alerts: While ntopng can provide visibility into anomalies or unusual traffic patterns, it is not primarily focused on alerting administrators to potential security threats like an IDS would.
- No Active Prevention: Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), which are often paired with IDS, not only detect but also block or mitigate detected threats in real-time. ntopng lacks this capability. Note that ntopng Edge features active traffic blocking based on DPI and behavioural traffic analysis.
How ntopng can be Used Like an IDS:
While ntopng isn’t a full-fledged IDS, it can complement an IDS or offer some level of security monitoring by providing:
- Anomaly Detection: ntopng has basic functionality for detecting anomalies, such as unusual traffic patterns, bandwidth spikes, or unknown protocols. These could indicate malicious activity like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or unauthorised access attempts.
- Flow Monitoring: By monitoring traffic flows, ntopng can help identify suspicious behaviour, such as frequent connections to external IPs, unexpected services, or unusual bandwidth consumption. This can aid in identifying threats or compromised devices.
- Integration with IDS Tools: ntopng can be used alongside traditional IDS tools like Snort or Suricata to enhance network visibility. It can capture and visualise network traffic, making it easier to investigate the incidents flagged by an IDS.
- Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): ntopng uses DPI to analyse the content of traffic, providing insights into the types of applications or protocols being used. This can help detect the misuse of certain applications or suspicious traffic on non-standard ports.
Combining ntopng with IDS/IPS
- To get the best of both worlds, you can use ntopng for detailed traffic analysis and monitoring, while pairing it with an IDS/IPS (like Snort, Suricata, or Zeek) for active intrusion detection and response.
- ntopng can also export flows to tools like ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) for correlation with IDS alerts.
Conclusion
While ntopng is not a dedicated IDS, it can be used to monitor network traffic for anomalies, provide valuable network visibility, and aid in threat detection. However, for serious security monitoring, it is best used alongside traditional IDS/IPS solutions.
Would you like help setting up ntopng with another IDS for combined monitoring?
Enjoy !