Final answer:
b. IPS The best device to proactively stop outside attackers from reaching your internal network is an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option b. IPS. An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a device that actively monitors network traffic and identifies and blocks potential intrusions or attacks before they reach the internal network. IPS devices use various techniques such as signature-based detection, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis to identify and prevent malicious traffic.
For example, if an outside attacker tries to exploit a known vulnerability or launch a DDoS attack on the network, the IPS device can detect and block such attempts in real-time.
Unlike an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that only passively monitors network traffic and generates alerts, an IPS is more proactive in actively preventing attacks from reaching the internal network.