At the fundamental awareness level, individuals are expected to understand the basic concept of Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and recognize common types of network threats. They should also be familiar with basic network protocols.

Novices should be able to install and configure basic IPS software and identify false positives and negatives in IPS alerts. They should understand the difference between Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and IPS, and have a basic knowledge of how firewalls integrate with IPS.

At the intermediate level, individuals should be capable of configuring advanced settings in IPS software, analyzing and interpreting IPS logs, and implementing custom IPS rules. They should understand the impact of IPS on network performance and know different IPS deployment strategies.

Advanced users should be able to troubleshoot complex IPS issues, perform IPS software upgrades and patches, and design and implement a comprehensive IPS strategy. They should also be capable of integrating IPS with other security systems like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and have an advanced understanding of evasion techniques and countermeasures.

Experts should have proficiency in multiple IPS platforms and the ability to conduct forensic analysis of IPS logs. They should be capable of designing and implementing IPS for large scale networks, have a deep understanding of zero-day exploits and how IPS can mitigate them, and be able to train others in the use and implementation of IPS.