Network traffic monitoring is a process in which the amount of data being used in a network is tracked through devices or programs. It tracks the amount of bandwidth being consumed by the network devices and reports on it accordingly. It is an efficient way of detecting any operational issue that can cause a threat to the security of the network. Monitoring the network traffic can help in optimizing the overall network performance and streamline the management of resources. Network traffic analysis allows monitoring of inbound or outbound traffic and helps maintain the network resources by providing data that is crucial in making decisions for better network health.

How Do We Monitor Network Traffic?

There are certain ways through which we can monitor the traffic both inbound and outbound in a network;

1. Identify Data Sources

It is important to identify the data being consumed on the network to better allocate for priority tasks and to maintain good speed overall in the network, this can be achieved by unifying data from multiple sources.

2. Identify Devices and Applications on Network for Bandwidth

Through the network devices being used for communication, we can obtain the IP addresses of the devices in the network, this allows network monitoring programs to identify the devices on the network along with the inbound and outbound traffic that is being sent to and received by each device.

3. Analysis and Optimization

The devices consuming the bandwidth of the network are identified by their IP addresses and once the network monitoring programs identify their respective bandwidth, the analysis of the data being consumed can be carried out using the software tools. Breaking down the network bandwidth can help optimize the usage for everything on the network so that any anomaly related to security or speed can be resolved.

4. Software Tools

When we have the data breakdown for the bandwidth on the network, we can utilize the software for better monitoring through automatic report generation and alerts. It helps maintain good day-to-day monitoring operation of the network by keeping the administrators informed about any operational issues.

Why is Network Traffic Monitoring Important?

For any industry or organization, it is important that its operations run smoothly without any hindrance or interference. Therefore, the need for monitoring devices connected to a network is of great importance as operational issues may cause problems both in terms of time and money. Network traffic monitoring provides an opportunity to assess operational and security issues with the ability to track things like network bandwidth usage or suspicious inbound or outbound traffic. Network downtime can be minimized through the process of network monitoring and any external or internal threat that may cause the network to slow down can be dealt with, it is also a valuable process to detect any breach of privacy concerns so that they can be preempted. Through reporting and monitoring software, the health of the network in terms of usage, security, and speed can be determined which leads to better performance of the resources.

Benefits of Network Traffic Monitoring

Network traffic monitoring is vital in maintaining a smooth network operation. There are many benefits of having a network traffic monitoring, some of the benefits include;

• Streamlining of bandwidth and server performance.
• Identification of devices using the bandwidth.
• Efficient troubleshooting of the network and its associated problems.
• Cost saving in terms of reduced downtime for connected devices and networks.
• Determine the application usage frequency and plan the bandwidth utilization accordingly.
• Using software tools, real-time data of the network and its resources can be displayed.
• Categorization of devices on the network for efficient handling of available bandwidth, ensuring the uptime for the network.
• Security of the system is ensured with increased monitoring of the network.
• Detection for security attacks and breaches.
• Improvement in the utilization of available resources according to the real-time network bandwidth.
• Track and report day-to-day performance of the network using the software.
• Reports for management, based on software, for better decision-making.

Conclusion

Network traffic monitoring is an efficient way to monitor network devices by analyzing their activity. It helps in identifying the bandwidth consumption of a network along with issues regarding the slow speed of the network. In addition to monitoring the network performance, it also helps secure the network by continuously looking for any security attacks or breaches. It analyzes security to detect threats early and makes sure that the network is operational at all times. With the use of network traffic monitoring software, operational reports detailing the available resources on the network in terms of bandwidth utilization can be presented.

How Can We Help?

Antaira offers a variety of industrial Ethernet switches that can perform efficiently in adverse weather conditions and environments. Since 2005, we have designed and manufactured top-quality industrial switches that operate efficiently in rugged, mission-critical applications. Setup a reliable Ethernet infrastructure that features extended temperature tolerances and enclosures designed for the roughest environments. Various markets utilize our industrial Ethernet switches, including automation processes, smart transportation systems, security operations, and power/utility plants.