Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP) systems are an invaluable component of the security toolbox. While firewalls lock the doors, IDP systems act as network burglar alarms when the door is bypassed. The ITA Premium IDP Total Cost of Ownership Calculator can be used to determine the approximate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of an IDP implementation according to various models. The three self-managed models compared in this calculator are:
- Logging only.
- Minimal response.
- 24x7 coverage.
These three self-managed models can be further compared to a managed services solution. Decisions around monitoring methodologies generally link directly to costs. Monitoring an IDP solution can be expensive, so enterprises must skillfully balance the IT budget with their monitoring requirements to make sure they are not overspending or limiting capability.