A systematic review on the integration of explainable artificial intelligence in intrusion detection systems to enhancing transparency and interpretability in cybersecurity

Abstract

The rise of sophisticated cyber threats has spurred advancements in Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), which are crucial for identifying and mitigating security breaches in real-time. Traditional IDS often rely on complex machine learning algorithms that lack transparency despite their high accuracy, creating a "black box" effect that can hinder the analysts' understanding of their decision-making processes. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) offers a promising solution by providing interpretability and transparency, enabling security professionals to understand better, trust, and optimize IDS models. This paper presents a systematic review of the integration of XAI in IDS, focusing on enhancing transparency and interpretability in cybersecurity. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent studies, this review identifies commonly used XAI techniques, evaluates their effectiveness within IDS frameworks, and examines their benefits and limitations. Findings indicate that rule-based and tree-based XAI models are preferred for their interpretability, though trade-offs with detection accuracy remain challenging. Furthermore, the review highlights critical gaps in standardization and scalability, emphasizing the need for hybrid models and real-time explainability. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research directions, suggesting improvements in XAI techniques tailored for IDS, standardized evaluation metrics, and ethical frameworks prioritizing security and transparency. This review aims to inform researchers and practitioners about current trends and future opportunities in leveraging XAI to enhance IDS effectiveness, fostering a more transparent and resilient cybersecurity landscape.

Keywords: cyber threats; explainable artificial intelligence; intrusion detection systems; machine learning; model explainability; model interpretability; systematic review.

Figure 1

PRISMA flowchart.