In today’s ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, protecting your network from potential threats is more important than ever. Cisco Meraki’s cloud-managed network solutions come equipped with powerful Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDS/IPS) tools that provide robust security with minimal hassle. The best part? You can configure and manage these features right from the Meraki Dashboard’s intuitive GUI — no command-line expertise required!
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through a practical, easy-to-follow guide to enable and configure IDS/IPS for your Meraki MX Security Appliance. Whether you’re an IT professional or a network admin looking to upgrade your security posture, this guide has you covered.
What is IDS/IPS and Why Use It?
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors network traffic and system activities for malicious behaviors or policy violations and logs these events.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) goes a step further by actively blocking detected threats in real time.
Enabling IDS/IPS helps your organization identify harmful attacks, such as malware infections or unauthorized access attempts, and either alert your team or automatically take action.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enable IDS/IPS on Meraki MX Using the Dashboard
Step 1: Log into Your Meraki Dashboard
- Open your preferred web browser and go to dashboard.meraki.com.
- Enter your username and password to access your organization’s network.
Step 2: Navigate to Security & SD-WAN Settings
- From the left-hand menu, select Security & SD-WAN.
- Then, click on the Configure dropdown.
- Select Threat protection.
Step 3: Enable IDS/IPS
- In the Intrusion Detection and Prevention section, toggle the feature ON.
- You’ll see two main modes:
- Detection mode: IDS alerts you about suspicious activities but doesn’t block traffic.
- Prevention mode: IPS actively blocks known threats in addition to alerting you.
Tip: Start with detection mode to monitor your network traffic without risk, then switch to prevention mode once you’re confident with the alerts.
Step 4: Choose the IDS/IPS Signature Set
Meraki offers various signature options to tailor the security level:
- Balanced (default): Offers a good mix of thoroughness and performance.
- Security: Focuses on catching more threats, potentially generating more alerts.
- Connectivity: Prioritizes fewer false positives, suited for sensitive applications.
Select the one that fits your organization’s risk tolerance.
Step 5: Configure Alerting Options
- Enable email alerts for IDS/IPS events to keep your security team informed.
- Specify recipient email addresses under Alert Settings.
Step 6: Save Your Configuration
- Scroll down and click Save changes.
- Your MX device will now begin monitoring and (if enabled) blocking threats according to your configured settings.
Monitoring IDS/IPS Activity and Logs
Once IDS/IPS is enabled:
- Navigate to Security & SD-WAN > Monitor > IDS events.
- Here, you’ll find a detailed log of detected threats, including timestamps, threat names, source/destination IPs, and severity levels.
- Use these insights to fine-tune your signature set or switch between detection and prevention modes.
Best Practices for Using Meraki IDS/IPS
- Regularly review alerts and logs: False positives can occur. Adjust signature sets or create firewall rules if needed.
- Keep firmware updated: Meraki devices automatically update, but monitor for notifications to ensure you’re running the latest security patches.
- Combine with other Meraki security features: Such as content filtering and malware scanning for layered protection.
Final Thoughts
Implementing IDS/IPS on your Cisco Meraki MX appliance through the Meraki Dashboard is straightforward yet powerful, offering real-time visibility and proactive defense against threats without the complexity traditionally associated with network security.
By following these simple steps, you can empower your network security team to detect and prevent attacks, keeping your organizational data and users safe.
Stay proactive, informed, and secure with your Meraki-powered IDS/IPS!
Did you find this guide useful? Keep exploring Meraki’s dashboard features to unlock more ways to enhance your network’s security and performance.
