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Configuration of and Interaction Between Information Security Technologies: The Case of Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems

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  • Huseyin Cavusoglu

    (School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75083)

  • Srinivasan Raghunathan

    (School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75083)

  • Hasan Cavusoglu

    (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z2 Canada)

Abstract

Proper configuration of security technologies is critical to balance the needs for access and protection of information. The common practice of using a layered security architecture that has multiple technologies amplifies the need for proper configuration because the configuration decision about one security technology has ramifications for the configuration decisions about others. Furthermore, security technologies rely on each other for their operations, thereby affecting each other's contribution. In this paper we study configuration of and interaction between a firewall and intrusion detection systems (IDS). We show that deploying a technology, whether it is the firewall or the IDS, could hurt the firm if the configuration is not optimized for the firm's environment. A more serious consequence of deploying the two technologies with suboptimal configurations is that even if the firm could benefit when each is deployed alone, the firm could be hurt by deploying both. Configuring the IDS and the firewall optimally eliminates the conflict between them, ensuring that if the firm benefits from deploying each of these technologies when deployed alone, it will always benefit from deploying both. When optimally configured, we find that these technologies complement or substitute each other. Furthermore, we find that while the optimal configuration of an IDS does not change whether it is deployed alone or together with a firewall, the optimal configuration of a firewall has a lower detection rate (i.e., allowing more access) when it is deployed with an IDS than when deployed alone. Our results highlight the complex interactions between firewall and IDS technologies when they are used together in a security architecture, and, hence, the need for proper configuration to benefit from these technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Huseyin Cavusoglu & Srinivasan Raghunathan & Hasan Cavusoglu, 2009. "Configuration of and Interaction Between Information Security Technologies: The Case of Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(2), pages 198-217, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:20:y:2009:i:2:p:198-217
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1080.0180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hasan Cavusoglu & Huseyin Cavusoglu & Jun Zhang, 2008. "Security Patch Management: Share the Burden or Share the Damage?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(4), pages 657-670, April.
    2. Esther Gal-Or & Anindya Ghose, 2005. "The Economic Incentives for Sharing Security Information," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(2), pages 186-208, June.
    3. Jacob W. Ulvila & John E. Gaffney, 2004. "A Decision Analysis Method for Evaluating Computer Intrusion Detection Systems," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 1(1), pages 35-50, March.
    4. Huseyin Cavusoglu & Birendra Mishra & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2005. "The Value of Intrusion Detection Systems in Information Technology Security Architecture," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 16(1), pages 28-46, March.
    5. Terrence August & Tunay I. Tunca, 2008. "Let the Pirates Patch? An Economic Analysis of Software Security Patch Restrictions," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 48-70, March.
    6. Gordon, Lawrence A. & Loeb, Martin P. & Lucyshyn, William, 2003. "Sharing information on computer systems security: An economic analysis," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(6), pages 461-485.
    7. Hulisi Ogut & Huseyin Cavusoglu & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2008. "Intrusion-Detection Policies for IT Security Breaches," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 112-123, February.
    8. Terrence August & Tunay I. Tunca, 2006. "Network Software Security and User Incentives," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(11), pages 1703-1720, November.
    9. Huseyin Cavusoglu & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2004. "Configuration of Detection Software: A Comparison of Decision and Game Theory Approaches," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 1(3), pages 131-148, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xing Gao & Weijun Zhong, 2015. "Information security investment for competitive firms with hacker behavior and security requirements," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 235(1), pages 277-300, December.
    3. Huseyin Cavusoglu & Byungwan Koh & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2010. "An Analysis of the Impact of Passenger Profiling for Transportation Security," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 58(5), pages 1287-1302, October.
    4. Kai-Lung Hui & Ping Fan Ke & Yuxi Yao & Wei T. Yue, 2019. "Bilateral Liability-Based Contracts in Information Security Outsourcing," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(2), pages 411-429, June.
    5. Yong Wu & Mengyao Xu & Dong Cheng & Tao Dai, 2022. "Information Security Strategies for Information-Sharing Firms Considering a Strategic Hacker," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 19(2), pages 99-122, June.
    6. Paul Lowry & Clay Posey & Tom Roberts & Rebecca Bennett, 2014. "Is Your Banker Leaking Your Personal Information? The Roles of Ethics and Individual-Level Cultural Characteristics in Predicting Organizational Computer Abuse," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 385-401, May.
    7. Yong Wu & Junlin Duan & Tao Dai & Dong Cheng, 2020. "Managing Security Outsourcing in the Presence of Strategic Hackers," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 17(3), pages 235-259, September.
    8. Xing Gao & Weijun Zhong & Shue Mei, 2015. "Security investment and information sharing under an alternative security breach probability function," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 423-438, April.
    9. Kumju Hwang & Hyemi Um, 2021. "Social Controls and Bonds of Public Information Consumer on Sustainable Utilization and Provision for Computing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, May.
    10. Bonsón Ponte, Enrique & Carvajal-Trujillo, Elena & Escobar-Rodríguez, Tomás, 2015. "Influence of trust and perceived value on the intention to purchase travel online: Integrating the effects of assurance on trust antecedents," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 286-302.
    11. Kalpit Sharma & Arunabha Mukhopadhyay, 2023. "Cyber-risk Management Framework for Online Gaming Firms: an Artificial Neural Network Approach," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 1757-1778, October.
    12. Huseyin Cavusoglu & Young Kwark & Bin Mai & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2013. "Passenger Profiling and Screening for Aviation Security in the Presence of Strategic Attackers," Decision Analysis, INFORMS, vol. 10(1), pages 63-81, March.
    13. Chul Ho Lee & Xianjun Geng & Srinivasan Raghunathan, 2016. "Mandatory Standards and Organizational Information Security," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 70-86, March.
    14. Xing Gao & Siyu Gong, 2022. "An economic analysis of information security outsourcing with competitive firms," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 2748-2758, October.
    15. Vijay Mookerjee & Radha Mookerjee & Alain Bensoussan & Wei T. Yue, 2011. "When Hackers Talk: Managing Information Security Under Variable Attack Rates and Knowledge Dissemination," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 606-623, September.
    16. Xiaotong Li, 2022. "An evolutionary game‐theoretic analysis of enterprise information security investment based on information sharing platform," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 595-606, April.
    17. Yonghua Ji & Subodha Kumar & Vijay Mookerjee, 2016. "When Being Hot Is Not Cool: Monitoring Hot Lists for Information Security," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(4), pages 897-918, December.
    18. Chuanxi Cai & Shue Mei & Weijun Zhong, 2019. "Configuration of intrusion prevention systems based on a legal user: the case for using intrusion prevention systems instead of intrusion detection systems," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 55-71, June.
    19. Gao, Xing & Zhong, Weijun & Mei, Shue, 2013. "A game-theory approach to configuration of detection software with decision errors," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 35-43.
    20. Xing Gao & Weijun Zhong, 2016. "A differential game approach to security investment and information sharing in a competitive environment," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(6), pages 511-526, June.
    21. Alain Bensoussan & Vijay Mookerjee & Wei T. Yue, 2020. "Managing Information System Security Under Continuous and Abrupt Deterioration," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(8), pages 1894-1917, August.

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