Method for protecting security of network intrusion detection sensors

1. A method for providing security for an intrusion detection system in a provisionable data center, said method comprising:

evaluating system security of a provisionable data center, wherein said evaluating system security includes determining portions of said provisionable data center specifically and purposefully allotted for use by said intrusion detection system; and

applying a system lockdown in said provisionable data center in accordance with results of said evaluating indicating a presence of an intruder in said provisionable data center, said system lockdown to deprive said intruder of access to said portions including depriving said intruder of access to sensors, management functions, files, and directories of said intrusion detection system, and wherein said applying said system lockdown further comprises disabling unused provisionable services of said provisionable data center and disabling any portions of said provisionable data center not specifically and purposefully allotted for use by said intrusion detection system.

2. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said intrusion detection system is implemented as a host intrusion detection system.

3. The method for providing security described in claim 2 wherein said host intrusion detection system is implemented as software resident in said provisionable data center.

4. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said intrusion detection system is implemented as a network intrusion detection system.

5. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said provisionable data center comprises a resource pool.

6. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said provisionable data center comprises a resource manager.

7. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said provisionable data center comprises a network intrusion detection system.

8. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said intrusion detection system comprises a dedicated hardware device.

9. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said intrusion detection system comprises software resident in said provisionable data center.

10. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises protecting files and directories of an operating system within said provisionable data center.

11. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling an administrative user login.

12. The method for providing security described in claim 11 wherein said disabling an administrative user login comprises disabling a root directory.

13. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling a change to a system registry entry.

14. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises performing a change to a system registry entry.

15. The method for providing security described in claim 1 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling communication on a selected communication port.

16. A system for providing security for an intrusion detection system in a provisionable data center, comprising:

a local area network of a provisionable data center, said local area network comprising an intrusion detection system and an operations center with a server;

an intrusion detection system manager communicatively coupled to components within said local area network; and

an intrusion detection system sensor enabled to detect and respond to an intrusion in said local area network, wherein said intrusion detection system sensor is enabled to detect an intrusion directed to said intrusion detection system and, in response to detection of said intrusion directed to said intrusion detection system, and wherein said intrusion detection sensor is further enabled to trigger applying of a system lockdown to deny an intruder access to portions of said provisionable data center which are specifically and purposefully allotted for use by said intrusion detection system, said system lockdown additionally including depriving said intruder of access to sensors, management functions, files, and directories of said intrusion detection system, and wherein said applying said system lockdown further comprises disabling unused provisionable services of said provisionable data center and disabling any portions of said provisionable data center not specifically and purposefully allotted for use by said intrusion detection system.

17. The system described in claim 16 wherein said intrusion detection system comprises a host intrusion detection system.

18. The system described in claim 17 wherein said host intrusion detection system comprises software resident in a hardware device.

19. The system described in claim 16 wherein said intrusion detection system comprises a network intrusion detection system.

20. The system described in claim 19 wherein said network intrusion detection system comprises a dedicated hardware device.

21. The system described in claim 16 wherein said provisionable data center comprises a resource pool.

22. The system described in claim 16 wherein said provisionable data center comprises a resource manager.

23. The system described in claim 16 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises protecting files and directories of an operating system within said provisionable data center.

24. The system described in claim 16 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling a change to a system registry entry.

25. The system described in claim 16 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises performing a change to a system registry entry.

26. The system described in claim 16 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling communication on a selected communication port.

27. The system described in claim 16 wherein said applying said system lockdown comprises disabling an administrative user login.

28. The system described in claim 27 wherein said disabling an administrative user login comprises disabling a root directory.