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Difference between HIDs and NIDs

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
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Cybersecurity and network security have always been a topic of great concern. In recent years, many. Still, rather technologies are developed to tackle the issue, Intrusion detection being one of them. Intrusion detection plays a vital role because it is not concerned with the authority or entity performing it but rather it monitors the flow of data and traffic in the network. It might be the case that an authorized person or an insider is trying to attack and harm the system and hence it becomes the need of the hour to try and develop technologies that are not dependent on such factors except for the security of the system network.

Intrusion detection systems are divided into 5 different categories, but here we will be looking at two IDS:

What is HID?

This intrusion detection system takes the host as a complete world in itself. It can be a computer (PC) or a server that can serve as a system in itself, analyzing and monitoring its internals. It operates by examining the files/data incoming and outgoing from the host it is operating upon. It works by taking a snapshot of the existing file system from the one taken previously and comparing them against each other. If they are the same, the host is safe and devoid of attack whereas changes might point towards a potential attack.

Working of HID
Working of HID

Advantages of HIDS

  • Analyze what an application does.
  • Detects the attacks excluded from the network

Disadvantage of HIDS

  • Excluded from the network
  • Needs to be installed on every host spot
  • Passive in nature, so it just informs about the attack without doing anything about it.

What is NID?

This intrusion detection system takes charge. Installation points of HIDS and NIDS of the entire network and is capable of operation in mixed and hybrid environments. If anything malicious or unusual is detected on the network or cloud or any other mixed environment it will initiate alerts. 

Working of NID
Working of NID

Advantage of NID

  • Detect attacks in the entire network
  • It can use the information collected from attacks on different hosts to detect attacks on a new or fresh host.
  • Host production/performance remains unaffected.

Disadvantage of NID

  • It might be slow as compared to the network speed.
  • Scrutinizing protected channels may possess difficult. 
  • It is also passive in nature.

Keeping aside the differences, both HIDS and NIDS are computer security systems that are used to protect systems from spyware, viruses, and other malicious file types, both HIDS and NIDS are passive in nature, meaning they are just used to detect intrusion and prevent it, operating in the read-only mode these detection systems just detect the malicious activity and report it the management servers via various network connections, the difference lies in the point of their installation.

Working of NID & HID both

Following is a table of differences between HIDS and NIDS:

Categories

HIDS

NIDS

DefinitionHost Intrusion Detection SystemNetwork Intrusion Detection System
TypeIt doesn't work in real-timeOperates in real-time
ConcernHIDS is related to just a single system, as the name suggests it is only concerned with the threats related to the Host system/computer, NIDS is concerned with the entire network system, NIDS examines the activities and traffic of all the systems in the network.
Installation Point HIDS can be installed on each and every computer or server i.e., anything that can serve as a host.NIDS being concerned with the network is installed at places like routers or servers as these are the main intersection points in the network system

Execution 

Process

HIDS operates by taking the snapshot of the current status of the system and comparing it against some already stored malicious tagged snapshots stored in the database, this clearly shows that there is a delay in its operation and activitiesNIDS works in real-time by closely examining the data flow and immediately reporting anything unusual. 

Information About Attack

HIDS are more informed about the attacks as they are associated with system files and processes.As the network is very large making it hard to keep track of the integrating functionalities, they are less informed of the attacks 

Ease of 

Installation

As it needs to be installed on every host, the installation process can be tiresome.Few installation points make it easier to install NIDS
Response TimeResponse time is slowFast response time

Conclusion

It is important for network administrators and IT professionals to fully comprehend the differences between HID and NID. HIDs are based on the physical properties of devices while providing high levels of security and user identification; however, NIDs are more suitable for rapidly changing networks. The choice of identification method, thus, hinged on different standards, which included factors like security, flexibility, and workability.


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