What is the most important criterion when deploying an intrusion prevention system on your network?

When deploying an intrusion prevention system (IPS) on your network, having low latency is critically important as it ensures that the system does not introduce significant delays in network traffic. Low latency is vital for maintaining the overall performance and responsiveness of the network, especially for environments where real-time communication is key, such as VoIP or online gaming. If an IPS introduces high latency, it can degrade the user experience, leading to frustration and potential operational disruptions.

Moreover, an IPS needs to operate efficiently and quickly to detect and mitigate threats in real time to prevent any exploits from affecting the network. While other factors such as compatibility with operating systems, update mechanisms, and reporting capabilities are significant, they do not directly affect the immediate performance of the system during critical operations. The primary function of an IPS is to intervene in live traffic with minimal impact, making low latency the paramount criterion in its deployment.