Certified: The Security+ Prepcast

Security isn’t just about policies and firewalls—it’s also about the capabilities and placement of the physical and virtual devices enforcing them. In this episode, we explore key device attributes such as active vs. passive monitoring, inline vs. tap-based deployment, and the role each plays in threat detection and response. Active devices like intrusion prevention systems (IPS) interact with and stop traffic, while passive tools like network sniffers or intrusion detection systems (IDS) observe without interfering. We also examine critical appliances like proxy servers, load balancers, and jump servers, each contributing to security by controlling access, managing traffic, or segmenting environments. Choosing whether a device sits inline (where it can block threats) or passively (where it merely observes) affects latency, risk tolerance, and coverage. Placement matters just as much as capability—an underutilized device in the wrong place won’t help during a breach. Designing the right mix of devices, configured for your infrastructure and security goals, is key to building effective, layered defense.