Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Certification!

A host-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) primarily protects system files and control mechanisms on an individual device. By monitoring the activities of the operating system and applications, a host-based IDS can detect unauthorized access attempts, changes to system configurations, and suspicious behavior that may indicate an intrusion or compromise.

This system is particularly effective in safeguarding critical files and system integrity, as it can analyze logs and file integrity to identify any unauthorized modifications or access attempts. The focus on system files enables the host-based IDS to provide detailed insights into potential security threats that may not be evident at the network level, making it an essential component of an organization's security posture.

In this context, options relating to network devices, end-user devices, or internet traffic are broader in scope and don't specifically align with the unique protective capabilities of a host-based IDS, which is designed to monitor and secure the individual host's environment.