Hello David
You’re correct that both IPS and AMP systems scan network traffic and compare it with a database of known threat signatures. However, they differ in the types of threats they are designed to detect and prevent.
An IPS is a network security/threat prevention technology that examines network traffic flows to detect and prevent vulnerability exploits, which are typically in the form of malicious inputs to a target application or service. They aim to identify threats like hacking and denial-of-service attacks, and then take action to stop these threats from damaging the network or systems.
On the other hand, AMP is specifically designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. AMP not only uses signature-based detection, but also other techniques like heuristic analysis (behavior-based detection), sandboxing, and machine learning to detect both known and unknown threats.
While there is some overlap, IPS is more focused on network threats while AMP is more focused on software-based threats, particularly malware. Both are crucial aspects of a comprehensive network security strategy.
I hope this has been helpful!
Laz