Cisco NGIPS vs Darktrace comparison

Cisco NGIPS (Next-Generation IPS) is a highly effective intrusion detection and prevention solution. It is designed to secure a user’s system from end to end and ensure that users are equipped to handle even the most sophisticated threats by offering them a high level of network visibility, threat intelligence, and security automation. Organizations across a wide variety of industries trust IPS to help them prevent unwanted intrusions from harming their networks.

Cisco NGIPS Benefits

Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy Cisco NGIPS include:

• Increased visibility. Cisco NGIPS enables users to gain a real-time view of all of the events that are taking place in their network. It gathers data from all corners of the network and uses it to provide organizations with context that can aid them in both proactively keeping themselves safe from harm and reactively addressing potential issues.

• Increased threat protection. NGIPS’ backbone is the core open Snort technology. This is the most widely used intrusion prevention software on the planet. It leverages this software to search for and detect vulnerabilities and anomalies that might otherwise go unnoticed. IPS is 99.7% effective at stopping threats.

• Flexibility. NGIPS can be customized so as to fit an organization’s specific security needs. Users can set the system so that it recognizes and seeks out threats that the organization defines as being of the highest level of concern.

Cisco NGIPS Features

• Security automation. NGIPS offers users a variety of powerful automation tools that can be leveraged to maximize a network’s protection. Analytics tools automatically examine intrusions and correlate them with known vulnerabilities in a user’s network.

• Integration suite. NGIPS enables users to integrate their security with many different cloud and application security services. Organizations can seamlessly combine the features that NGIPS offers with other platforms to bolster their effectiveness. This gives users the option to plug any feature hole that they might perceive.

• URL filter. NGIPS comes with a built-in filter that allows businesses to specify sources that the system should flag and block. This prevents known threats from causing significant harm to an organization’s network.

Reviews from Real Users

Cisco NGIPS is a highly effective solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two major advantages are its easy-to-use GUI interface and the highly effective technical support that it offers users.

Aankit G., a consultant at Pi DATACENTERS, said, “The FTD has a GUI interface, which is very easy to work around with all the configurations. It is a client-based software based on Java. Now we have the GUI web interface, and it's very interactive and easy to navigate.”

Gebremichael T., a networking and security engineer at IE Network Solutions PLC, says, “The other aspect that I like is the technical support, who are highly capable. They were very good to us during the times that we used them and they tend to reply immediately to queries, even though you might not get the right engineer to help you right away. Tickets are usually assigned to junior staff at first but they do have escalation procedures, so if the support member can't solve the issue then they will immediately escalate it to higher management.”

Darktrace is a leading cybersecurity solution that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide advanced threat detection, response, and risk management capabilities. Many reviewers find Darktrace's AI and machine-learning capabilities to be valuable. They appreciate its ability to detect anomalies and threats that might go unnoticed by traditional security tools. Overall, the general sentiment towards Darktrace from reviewers is positive. Users seem to appreciate its scalability, stability, AI capabilities, visibility, and ease of use.

Darktrace offers a proactive and intelligent approach to cybersecurity. It utilizes AI algorithms to learn and understand the 'pattern of life' for every user and device within a network. This understanding enables it to detect anomalies that could signify a cyber threat, from subtle insider threats to more obvious ransomware attacks.

Its adaptability, autonomous response features, and comprehensive network visibility make it a top-tier solution for different sizes of organizations and across many industries. It was named one of TIME magazine’s ‘Most Influential Companies’ in 2021 and protects over 8,800 organizations globally from advanced cyber threats.

Darktrace Cyber AI Loop

The Darktrace Cyber AI Loop introduces an advanced artificial intelligence-based system for cybersecurity, designed to build a self-improving defense mechanism. This system functions like a closed loop, where each stage feeds information and insights into the next, amplifying the overall effectiveness of the platform.

The key components of the loop are:

• DETECT - An AI engine that monitors your network and endpoints for anomalous activity, constantly learning the normal behavior of your users and devices. It identifies suspicious patterns and potential threats in real-time, even from never-before-seen attacks.
• PREVENT - This proactive arm analyzes vulnerabilities and identifies weaknesses in your IT infrastructure. It prioritizes patching and configuration changes to harden defenses before attackers can exploit those vulnerabilities.
• RESPOND - When DETECT identifies a threat, RESPOND takes immediate action to contain and neutralize it. This can involve isolating compromised devices, disrupting attacker activity, and automatically escalating critical incidents to human analysts.
• HEAL - This newest addition to the loop focuses on post-incident recovery. It automatically restores compromised systems, cleans infected files, and helps to prevent the attack from spreading further.

Darktrace's AI algorithms can identify threats that traditional security tools might miss. It continuously learns and updates its understanding of what is normal for each environment, ensuring that it can quickly detect and respond to unusual activities that could indicate a breach. Darktrace's Antigena module can autonomously respond to threats in real time. This is particularly crucial in containing fast-moving threats like ransomware, where every second counts. 

Darktrace's solution provides unparalleled visibility into all parts of the network, including cloud services, IoT devices, and industrial control systems. This comprehensive coverage ensures that no part of the network is left unprotected. However, while the Darktrace Cyber AI Loop offers a robust solution, it is not a complete cure-all and requires careful implementation and integration with existing security frameworks.Darktrace offers a comprehensive and unified approach to cybersecurity. It provides continuous protection against known and unknown threats, regardless of where they emerge. Darktrace's solutions provide visibility into your cloud infrastructure, continuous monitoring of application usage and communication patterns (e.g., identification of suspicious actions like unauthorized data access), comprehensive email security that goes beyond traditional spam and phishing filters, real-time protection for endpoints, and continuous monitoring of network traffic and device activity.

Darktrace also provides specialized coverage to secure your zero-trust architecture. Identifies compromised identities, unauthorized access attempts, and risky data exfiltration within a least-privilege environment. Finally, it has a dedicated solution for safeguarding industrial control systems and critical infrastructure. Monitors communication patterns, device behavior, and physical access within OT environments, protecting against operational disruptions and cyberattacks.