An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is a security control that monitors network traffic and/or system activity and can automatically block or stop malicious behavior in real time. In EV charging ecosystems, an IPS helps protect chargers, site networks, and backend services by preventing exploit attempts, stopping suspicious connections, and reducing the chance that an attack disrupts charging operations or compromises data.
What Is an IPS?
An IPS typically performs three core functions:
– Inspect traffic or events (signatures, rules, anomalies)
– Decide whether activity is malicious or violates policy
– Prevent by blocking, dropping packets, resetting connections, or quarantining hosts
IPS is often deployed as part of next-generation firewalls (NGFW) or as a dedicated security appliance/service.
Why IPS Matters for EV Charging
EV charging infrastructure includes internet-connected devices and backend platforms that must remain reliable. An IPS can:
– Block known exploit attempts against CPMS portals and APIs
– Reduce risk of chargers being used as entry points into site networks
– Prevent scanning, brute force attempts, and suspicious traffic bursts
– Support uptime by stopping attacks before they cause outages
– Strengthen compliance posture under OT security expectations (e.g., IEC 62443)
For public networks and fleet depots, preventing a widespread compromise helps protect both service continuity and reputation.
IPS vs IDS
These are closely related but different:
– IDS (Intrusion Detection System) detects and alerts
– IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) detects and actively blocks
Many organizations run both: IDS for visibility and IPS in strategic points to stop high-confidence threats.
Types of IPS
Common IPS approaches include:
Network IPS (NIPS)
– Inspects network traffic at key chokepoints
– Often integrated into firewalls or gateways
– Suitable for protecting charger VLANs, site routers, and cloud ingress
Host IPS (HIPS)
– Runs on a server/endpoint and blocks suspicious behavior locally
– Common for backend servers, admin workstations, and critical service hosts
– Less common on embedded charger controllers due to resource constraints
OT-aware IPS
– Tuned for industrial protocols and segmented architectures
– Often used where chargers share networks with building controls or energy systems
– Supports zones and conduits segmentation strategies
Where IPS Is Deployed in Charging Architectures
Typical deployment locations include:
– Cloud edge protecting CPMS web portals and APIs
– OCPP gateway perimeter to reduce exposure to scanning and exploit traffic
– Site gateways separating charger networks from corporate IT networks
– Between partner connections (roaming/payment integrations) and core services
– Internal segmentation boundaries to reduce lateral movement risk
What IPS Can Block in Charging Environments
An IPS can prevent threats such as:
– Credential brute force against admin portals
– Exploit attempts against web services and APIs
– Malicious scanning and recon traffic targeting chargers
– Command-and-control style outbound traffic patterns
– Known malware signatures and suspicious payloads
– Policy violations like unauthorized destination access from charger subnets
Operational Considerations and Risks
IPS must be tuned carefully in EV charging because false positives can disrupt operations:
– Overblocking can prevent session authorization, roaming, or payment flows
– Maintenance and firmware update traffic may look “unusual” and trigger blocks
– Remote diagnostics tools can resemble scanning behavior
– Strict rules can impact connectivity for chargers on variable cellular networks
Best practices typically include:
– Start in “detect-only” mode, then enable blocking for high-confidence rules
– Whitelist known services (CPMS endpoints, roaming hubs, update servers)
– Apply change control and maintenance windows for rule updates
– Integrate with incident response so blocks are investigated, not ignored
– Monitor impacts on session start success rate and backend error rates
Related Glossary Terms
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Firewall Segmentation
Charger Cybersecurity
Incident Response
Incident Response Plan
Encrypted Communications
Certificate Management
Secure Update Pipeline
OCPP
High-Availability Clusters