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From surface-level to strategic: Benefits of network traffic analysis

Enterprises are experiencing fluctuations in workforce dynamics amidst the insurgence of new technologies while also tackling the growing prevalence of cyberthreats. They are increasingly turning to cloud technologies, which are scalable and flexible, to adapt to these changes.
While newer technologies have their advantages, it's important to make sure that there are no security gaps that could jeopardize an organization's data or reputation. For this, organizations must keep monitoring their networks to identify hidden traffic patterns that could reveal potential issues. Analyzing network traffic is crucial for spotting performance issues or security gaps that might slip under the radar. In this blog, let's examine how a network traffic analysis tool like Site24x7 helps network administrators gain actionable insights. 

Why should enterprises monitor their network traffic?

Monitoring network traffic is essential for maintaining a secure, high-performing, and efficient IT environment. As networks expand with hybrid cloud infrastructure, IoT devices, and remote workforces, visibility into traffic patterns becomes critical. Here’s what enterprises should monitor and why it matters:
  • Bandwidth optimization: Identifying bandwidth hogs helps administrators reduce congestion and streamline resource allocation.
  • Service quality and SLAs: Tracking network performance helps maintain service quality and compliance with SLAs.
  • Performance degradation: Slow network paths, overloaded devices, and high latency can impact productivity. Monitoring helps pinpoint and resolve these issues before they escalate.
  • Capacity planning: Understanding traffic trends enables better resource allocation and future-proofing against network expansion needs.
  • Security threats: Unusual traffic spikes or unknown data flows could indicate cyberthreats such as DDoS attacks or data breaches. Real-time monitoring helps detect and mitigate risks.
  • Hybrid cloud complexity: As enterprises increasingly rely on multi-cloud and hybrid environments, monitoring traffic across different infrastructures ensures seamless connectivity and performance.

Key questions to ask during network flow analysis

A curious mind is the best tool for a network administrator. Ask yourself:
  1. What does normal traffic look like in my network? Establishing a baseline is critical for identifying anomalies. What are the typical patterns for different times of the day or week?
  2. Are certain devices or users consuming disproportionate bandwidth? Can this traffic be justified, or does it point to inefficiencies or misuse?
  3. Which paths are contributing to latency? Does the problem lie within your network, or is it external? Tracing routes can pinpoint issues with ISPs or external services.
  4. What are the most frequent communication pairs? Analyzing conversations between IPs can help you identify high-value assets or potential risks.

Tools and techniques for network traffic analysis

To dive deep, you need tools and methodologies that provide:
  • Flow data analysis: Use technologies like NetFlow, sFlow, or IPFIX to capture detailed traffic data.
  • Granular visibility: Leverage device-, application-, and interface-level insights to understand where bottlenecks occur.
  • Historical trend analysis: Review past data to identify recurring patterns and long-term issues.
  • Proactive alerts: Implement configurable thresholds for metrics like traffic volume, errors, or bandwidth utilization so you’re notified before a problem escalates.

How Site24x7 simplifies network traffic monitoring

Site24x7 offers a range of powerful tools and features designed for administrators.
  • Comprehensive network traffic monitoring
    Site24x7 provides detailed insights using flow technologies such as NetFlow, sFlow, J-Flow, Cflow, IPFIX, NetStream, and AppFlow. It enables real-time monitoring of:
    • Application-specific traffic
    • Device-to-device conversations
    • Bandwidth utilization at the interface and device levels
  • Actionable performance metrics
    Track key SNMP-based metrics like:
    • CPU and memory utilization of devices
    • Packet loss and error rates
    • Application-specific bandwidth consumption
  • Customizable alerts and thresholds
    Set proactive alerts for metrics that matter most to your network. Whether it’s a spike in traffic from a rogue application or abnormal interface errors, you’ll be notified instantly.
  • Network configuration management
    Site24x7’s network configuration manager helps ensure you maintain compliance and security by:
    • Detecting unauthorized configuration changes
    • Backing up configurations for quick restoration
    • Identifying vulnerabilities in device firmware
  • Scalability for all environments
    Whether you’re managing a small business network or a large enterprise, Site24x7’s tools scale with your needs. With support for over 450 vendors and more than 11,000 device types, it integrates seamlessly with diverse environments.

Moving from reactive to proactive

Analyzing network flow and data shouldn’t just be about fixing what’s broken; it should help you foresee potential issues and optimize performance. Site24x7’s suite of network monitoring features empowers network administrators to go beyond surface-level monitoring and gain actionable insights that improve both network reliability and efficiency.

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