Network Traffic Analyzer: Network Performance Management helps businesses in Network traffic monitoring. It is used to review, analyze and manage network traffic for any irregularity. 

What is a network traffic analyzer?

 A traffic analyzer is a process that can impact network performance, availability, and security. Network traffic monitoring uses several tools and methods to study your computer network-based traffic.

In case networks get busier, the overall speed of these networks slows down. Various different trends are getting famous in the IT infrastructure like an increase in the use of cloud servers, video, VOIP, etc. These trends put immense pressure on IT infrastructure resources. When the load on any network increases, companies monitor network traffic with the help of Network monitoring software.

How much does network monitoring costs?

The process of network monitoring is not only expensive but is also useful for a very short period. When you offer more IT infrastructure resources to the network but do not care to lower the pressure, the infrastructure faces identical problems which it was facing prior to the upgrade.

The best way to find out the kind of network traffic and its source is the Netflow analyzers. Simply, Netflow is a feature that was first presented in Cisco devices. This feature can collect IP-based network traffic by monitoring the inflow and outflow of the data. Apart from that this feature helps the administrator to maintain a check on the source and destination of the traffic, class of service, and reasons for congestion. It makes it more manageable to understand the network traffic and manage it properly. I believe you’ve heard the quote from Peter Drucker (Management Guru) “What Gets Measured, Gets Managed”.

Why does the Network Admin Need Network Traffic Monitoring?

There are various reasons to monitor overall traffic on the network. Admins can use the information created by the network traffic monitoring tools in numerous IT operational and security use cases.  

1. To find out security vulnerabilities and 
2. To troubleshoot network-related issues 
3. To analyze the impact of new applications on the overall network

However not all the tools for monitoring network traffic are identical. Usually, they are divided into two broad types 

Deep packet inspection tools 

Flow-based tools

Further, you have the choice of tools that do not need software agents or tools. Also, they store historical data, and tools with intrusion detection systems. These monitor network traffic within the network as well as along the network edge.

#1. Internal network visibility

Network flow monitoring software that supports protocols such as Netflow, IPFix, JFlow, sFlow, etc. provides full visibility of internal network traffic. With Motadata, the IT department can get insightful reports about the following types and kinds of traffic

1. Traffic for Top Applications 
2. Traffic for Top Conversations 
3. Traffic Destinations with Host IP 
4. Top Traffic Sources With IP address 
5. Top Traffic Receivers with IP 
6. IP to IP Traffic 
7. Protocol-Traffic 
8. Port Traffic 
9. Application Traffic

#2. Identification of slow applications

Speed or performance has an important role in user experience. One of the most submitted help desk tickets is about the application (web application, Go-to-Meeting, Skype, etc.) being slow or getting crashed. There can be several reasons out of which only one or two will be applicable at any certain time. Identifying these reasons is not only time-consuming but expensive as well. The next-generation Netflow software can filter and report the exact cause. By incorporating the internal data reports with the external resources, the system admins can know a lot about the system and the flawed network.

#3. Detection of spyware and other hacks

When spyware attacks your network, they form a very uncommon data flow in and out. With the help of Netflow, these uncommon patterns can be detected easily. If you are not using some data analyzer, these patterns often go unchecked because these are created to fool the human administrator.

Generally, these worms often generate non-financial problems by making a bad image for the company. However, sometimes, the effect of these worms can have high rates of financial loss as well.

Conclusion

Netflow is a trustworthy and widely supported protocol, Motadata platform supports Netflow (versions: v5, v9), IPFix, sFlow, and JFlow. You must try the Motadata Network Traffic Analyzer tool today and see how it works. Try! It is free for 30 days! Contact us at GreenEdge Computers to know more.