If you are an IT expert, you will surely know the significance of the security and efficiency of your network. Monitoring Network traffic is essential for a business, considering the rapid growth of data they own and the increasing cyber threats they face.
You cannot risk losing your data only because your network isn’t secure, right? Missing out on its performance is also a concern.
Not surprisingly, business owners are willing to set aside a significant budget and time for network monitoring. But only setting up monitoring software isn’t enough for the job.
Your IT team must do more for a consistent and reliable process. Here are a few actionable tips to monitor your network traffic effectively and keep your systems running smoothly.
Choose the right data sources
When monitoring network traffic, you need to be selective about data sources. Flow data provides information on traffic volumes and packet journeys and helps detect unauthorized WAN traffic.
While it can aid in optimizing network performance, you cannot use it to address security issues. Conversely, packet data provides insights into user application usage and security incident monitoring.
Pick the correct points
Monitoring every network point is the last thing IT professionals should do. You may end up sweating on the small stuff. Focus only on areas where data converge, like internet gateways, VLANs associated with critical servers, or WAN router Ethernet ports.
Monitoring internet gateways is a good starting point as they provide valuable security and operational data. You can minimize your effort yet get the information you actually need.
Invest in reliable tools
Investing in reliable tools is the next part of an effective network monitoring strategy. Look for top-notch tools that will give you real-time visibility into your network traffic. For example, the Agilent Keysight N5230A can cover your general-purpose analysis needs without burning a hole in your budget.
A network monitoring software solution should also be a part of your arsenal. These tools empower you to stay a step ahead of the performance and security issues.
Sound the alarm
Another piece of advice for IT professionals is to be proactive about security. Don’t just wait for disaster to strike because dealing with it can be expensive and painful. Set up alerts and notifications to help you detect an impending security issue.
That way, you can catch those pesky hackers before they cause any real damage to your network. Statistics show that organizations responding to security incidents within hours can save thousands of dollars.
Keep an eye on that bandwidth
Security is critical, but you cannot overlook bandwidth when it comes to network monitoring. After all, the tiniest bottlenecks can cause a major slowdown. Monitor your bandwidth utilization proactively to identify any bandwidth-hogging apps or devices affecting your resources.
Also, go the extra mile with traffic analysis to proactively spot trends, anomalies, and possible breaches. Network monitoring is a critical part of managing the IT infrastructure of your business.
Going complacent with its performance and security is not a choice. Thankfully, you need not do a lot to ensure both. Follow these steps to Monitoring Network Traffic, and you are good to go!
