Answer:
a. drop the attack packet(s)
Step-by-step explanation:
An IPS not only detects and alerts system administrators but it also stops attacks. It is built to consistently monitor a network, report malicious incidents and take preventative actions. So, how does an IPS work exactly? An IPS does a deep packet inspection and either blocks the IP of whoever sent the malicious packet or removes the malicious packet's content and repackages its payloads. Thus, this means that the malicious packet is completely dropped by stripping off of its header information and any infected items in the packet.