What type of attacks can IPS Sensors help mitigate?

IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) sensors are designed to detect and respond to potential threats in a network environment. They play a crucial role in mitigating attacks such as malware and intrusion attempts. By analyzing network traffic in real-time, IPS sensors can identify suspicious patterns or behaviors that indicate an attack is underway. When such activity is detected, the IPS can take proactive measures to block the malicious traffic or alert network administrators to potential threats.

Malware attacks often exploit vulnerabilities in systems to gain unauthorized access or to propagate through the network. IPS sensors help by inspecting traffic for known signatures of malware or for anomalous behavior that signifies the presence of malicious software. Similarly, intrusion attempts—whether from external hackers or internal threats—can be intercepted by IPS sensors, which actively prevent unauthorized access to network resources.

The other options, while related to security, do not fall under the direct purview of IPS sensors. Social engineering attacks and physical security breaches involve human behavior or physical access to facilities, respectively, which do not directly relate to network traffic analysis. Data loss from hardware failures often pertains to issues outside the realm of network security and is typically managed through data backup and recovery solutions rather than intrusion prevention systems.