Sophos Certified Engineer Practice Exam

What does HIPS do on a protected endpoint?

1. Scans for potentially malicious behavior

2. Updates antivirus definitions

3. Logs user activity

4. Manages firewall settings

The correct answer is: Scans for potentially malicious behavior

HIPS, or Host Intrusion Prevention System, is designed specifically to monitor and protect endpoints from potentially malicious behavior. It works by analyzing the activities occurring on the device and detecting patterns or actions that align with known threats or suspicious behavior. This proactive approach allows HIPS to respond in real time to potential intrusions, thereby preventing the compromise of the system. While updating antivirus definitions, logging user activity, and managing firewall settings are important aspects of endpoint security, they are not the primary functions of HIPS. Updating antivirus definitions relates to ensuring that the antivirus can recognize the latest threats, logging user activity pertains to monitoring user actions for compliance or audit purposes, and managing firewall settings focuses on controlling network traffic. Each of these functions serves a different aspect of security but does not encapsulate the core focus of HIPS, which centers around detecting and preventing malicious behavior directly on the endpoint.