Why IDPS Can’t Stop Modern Attacks

The IDPS Security Gap

IDPS solutions monitor network traffic for known attack patterns, but modern attackers use evasive techniques that bypass signature-based detection. Once inside, they move stealthily across networks, cloud workloads, and identity systems—areas where IDPS has no visibility. Attackers exploit these blind spots to escalate privileges, move laterally, and exfiltrate data undetected.

How attackers evade IDPS

1. Signature evasion

Attackers modify malware, use polymorphic techniques, or leverage encrypted traffic to avoid detection.

2. Insider & credential-based attacks 

IDPS trusts authenticated users, failing to detect stolen credentials or privilege escalation.

3. Lateral movement beyond the perimeter 

IDPS focuses on network perimeters but lacks visibility into cloud, SaaS, and identity-based threats.

The Real-World Consequences of IDPS Blind Spots

In a Scattered Spider–style attack (as illustrated below), an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) is largely ineffective—not because it’s broken, but because it’s built to stop known attack signatures, not detect modern adversaries who live off the land, abuse identity, and operate inside encrypted and trusted paths.

IDPS Detects Known Threats—Modern Attackers Adapt

IDPS is designed to detect known attack patterns, but it fails against sophisticated attackers who use novel, fileless, and credential-based techniques. Security teams need an approach that goes beyond signatures to detect attacker behavior in real time.

IDPS relies on predefined signatures and traffic analysis, but:

• What if an attacker uses living-off-the-land techniques? IDPS struggles to detect malicious use of legitimate system tools.
• What if an insider misuses their access? IDPS assumes trusted users are safe and doesn’t detect privilege abuse.
• What if the attack moves through cloud and identity layers? IDPS focuses on network activity but lacks deep visibility into SaaS, IaaS, and identity threats.

How Vectra AI Fills the Gap

IDPS detects known threats, but it can’t stop attackers who operate without malware or known signatures. The Vectra AI Platform provides real-time threat detection across network, cloud, and identity layers, closing security gaps that IDPS can’t.

• Detects stealthy attacks: Uses AI to expose attacker behaviors that evade signature-based detection.
• Monitors cloud & SaaS threats: Provides visibility beyond traditional network security, detecting attacks in hybrid environments.
• Reduces alert fatigue: Surfaces high-confidence detections, cutting through noise.

With Vectra AI, you can detect threats that IDPS overlooks—before they escalate into breaches.

How Vectra AI Can Replace IDPS

IDPS focuses on known threats, while Vectra AI detects active attacks beyond signature-based defenses. Here’s how they compare: