What type of security tool actively blocks malicious traffic and must be placed inline with network traffic to be effective?

The network intrusion prevention system (NIPS) is a type of security tool specifically designed to detect and proactively block malicious traffic. Its placement inline with the network traffic is critical for its functionality. This means that all incoming and outgoing data packets must pass through the NIPS, allowing it to analyze the traffic in real time and make immediate decisions about whether to allow or block that traffic based on predefined security rules and threat intelligence.

While other security measures, such as data loss prevention and file integrity monitoring, have their specific functions, they do not actively intervene in network traffic in the same way. For example, data loss prevention focuses on preventing sensitive data from leaving the network, and file integrity monitoring checks the integrity of files rather than processing network traffic. Similarly, a network intrusion detection system (NIDS) monitors network traffic for signs of intrusions but does not have the capability to block or prevent these threats; it can only alert administrators.

In summary, the networking intrusion prevention system stands out as the tool specifically designed to actively block threats by being directly involved in the flow of network traffic, making it imperative to mitigate risks as they happen.