important files in an operating system.

One should also review these logs from time to time to detect if there were any malicious activities.

7. Use firewalls, anti-malware programs, and Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

We should configure proper firewalls on a system. We can always restrict unnecessary services from using the Internet. We should also use anti-malware programs from trusted sources and update the anti-malware programs regularly.

It is also good to use an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS). We can use a Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) to monitor individual hosts or devices in a network. An HIDS inspects all inbound and outbound traffic or analyzes the changes in the system files of the host or device and looks for suspicious activities. If it detects any possible intrusion, it sends an alert to the administrator.

We can also use a Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) to monitor all traffic entering or leaving the network. A NIDS matches the traffic with a library of known attacks. If any suspicious activity is detected, it sends an alert.

Please note that an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can only detect intrusions and sends alerts when it does so (What is IDS and how does it work?). But, an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS or IPS) can detect as well as prevent intrusions (What is IDPS and how does it work?).

8. Assess the security of your host system

We should also assess the security of a host system from time to time. For example, we can use various security tools like scanners to detect security flaws in a system. We can also use various vulnerability assessment tools to detect whether any services running on a host have security vulnerabilities and address those vulnerabilities.