What is the role of intrusion detection systems in cyber security?

Intrusion detection mechanisms serve a crucial role in identifying and preventing attacks by actively monitoring network or system activities for malicious activities or policy violations. They help in detecting unauthorized access, malware, or other suspicious behaviors, and notify system administrators or security personnel to take action to mitigate risks. By analyzing patterns and anomalies in network traffic or system logs, intrusion detection mechanisms are able to identify potential security incidents in real-time, enabling a timely response to prevent or minimize the impact of attacks.