What type of network threat is addressed by an intrusion prevention system (IPS)?

An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is specifically designed to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and take proactive steps to prevent potential threats, particularly unauthorized access attempts. The primary function of an IPS is to identify and respond to intrusions and attacks in real-time, blocking malicious traffic based on pre-defined security policies.

By analyzing data packets as they flow through the network, an IPS can detect patterns or signatures that indicate a security breach, such as attempts to exploit vulnerabilities or gain unauthorized access to systems. When it identifies such activities, the IPS can take measures like dropping malicious packets, blocking offending IP addresses, or alerting administrators to the threat, effectively mitigating unauthorized access before it can lead to further complications.

In contrast, other choices such as server overloads and slow internet connections refer to performance-related issues rather than security threats, while data redundancy pertains to data management and storage practices, not directly related to security threats. Thus, the focus of an IPS on preventing unauthorized access makes it particularly effective in addressing security-related threats to a network.