Network security has become a critical challenge for modern organizations due to the increasing number of cyber-attacks. Many businesses suffer from a lack of intelligent automated security systems capable of detecting and responding to threats in real time. This paper presents the design and implementation of an intelligent network protection system based on Snort 3 as an intrusion detection system combined with automated response mechanisms using iptables. The suggested system keeps an eye on network traffic, identifies malicious activity like DoS and HTTP attacks, and automatically blocks the attacker's IP address for a certain amount of time. A bridge-based architecture was used in the system's implementation on Ubuntu Server to guarantee excellent performance and minimal resource usage. Experimental results show that the proposed solution effectively detects attacks, reduces response time, and enhances overall network security.............. Keywords: ...........Network Security, Snort 3, Intrusion Detection System, Automated Response, iptables.