The necessity for network monitoring

In the initial stages of network monitoring, teams typically leverage existing resources such as SPAN ports, laptops equipped with packet capture utilities, or basic command-line tools. While these makeshift approaches offer low-cost and rapid deployment, they quickly reveal their limitations as network environments expand and performance demands escalate.

Schematic of a simple network with 3 desktops, one switch, router, server, and printer.

Laptop-based packet capture

One of the most straightforward methods of monitoring network traffic is connecting a laptop directly to the SPAN port of a network switch and using Wireshark. This approach provides quick visibility into network activity within a specific segment. However, this approach has notable limitations: it demands frequent manual setup, limits monitoring to one network segment, and does not scale well for continuous or enterprise-wide traffic analysis. For larger networks, dedicated monitoring appliances are advised.

Highlighting a laptop used for manual network traffic monitoring.

The limitations of SPAN ports

A common approach for capturing network traffic is using a SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) port. While this method is more convenient than a direct laptop connection, it comes with significant drawbacks. SPAN ports are not designed for continuous, high-volume traffic monitoring, leading to packet loss and unreliable data. When network congestion occurs, mirrored traffic is often deprioritized, resulting in incomplete captures. For security and performance analysis, this can mean missing critical events.

Multiple SPAN ports connected to a monitoring tool.

The role of TAPs in network monitoring

Network TAPs (Test Access Points) were designed and implemented long before SPAN ports became an option for troubleshooting limited-bandwidth and small-scale networks. TAPs function as dedicated, passive access devices that allow complete, real-time visibility into the network traffic without introducing packet loss, distortion, or latency. Unlike SPAN ports, which replicate data for analysis but are susceptible to oversubscription and packet drops, TAPs provide full-duplex monitoring and transparent data access, making them indispensable for high-fidelity forensic analysis and compliance auditing.

A Network Packet Broker aggregates TAP traffic.

.Today, there is a substantial increase in the adoption of TAPs and network packet brokers, particularly in environments where uncompromising accuracy and high-performance monitoring are required at scale. As organizations transition from small, isolated networks to complex, high-speed enterprise infrastructures, the demand for reliable monitoring solutions has accelerated. TAPs ensure data integrity for critical applications such as incident response, regulatory compliance, and real-time threat detection, while network packet brokers aggregate, filter, and intelligently distribute captured traffic to downstream monitoring platforms. This evolving approach enables seamless scalability and sustained operational reliability, making it capable of meeting the stringent requirements of modern communication networks and regulatory frameworks.

Scaling monitoring: the necessity of aggregation and filtering

As enterprise network environments continue to scale in size and complexity, individually monitoring every TAP or capture point rapidly becomes inefficient and unsustainable. This challenge is addressed by deploying Network Packet Brokers (NPBs), which serve as intelligent traffic aggregation and distribution platforms. NPBs consolidate data streams from numerous TAPs and other sources, apply advanced filtering, load balancing, and deduplication, and deliver only the most relevant, actionable traffic to specialized security and monitoring solutions such as Network Detection and Response (NDR) systems.

By consolidating and optimizing captured traffic streams, NPBs reduce operational overhead, eliminate unnecessary data volumes, improve tool utilization rates, and enhance the accuracy and performance of analytics platforms. This enables organizations to maintain visibility, compliance, and threat detection capabilities without overwhelming their network monitoring infrastructure.

All-in-one network monitoring with IOTA

The IOTA solution suite delivers integrated deep packet inspection designed for organizations demanding advanced, high-throughput network analysis. Supporting sustained capture rates from 3.2 Gbps up to 100 Gbps and scalable onboard storage capacities reaching 307TB for PCAP retention, IOTA combines powerful traffic acquisition with intelligent analytics. Its built-in analysis engine empowers network teams to perform precise forensic investigations, replay historical traffic, and respond rapidly to security incidents. This comprehensive monitoring capability significantly enhances network visibility and control, reducing the reliance on continuous, resource-intensive real-time monitoring while maintaining compliance and performance standards.

TCP analysis dashboard.

IOTA lineup

With modern network infrastructures' increasing scale and complexity, effective monitoring has evolved from a basic troubleshooting activity into a mission-critical requirement. The transition from manual packet capture methods to sophisticated solutions—such as TAPs and network packet brokers—reflects the need for precision, speed, and comprehensive visibility in today’s environments. While ad-hoc approaches may address isolated issues, robust monitoring platforms leveraging advanced capture technologies, aggregation, and forensic capabilities enable organizations to detect threats in real-time, optimize network performance, and maintain compliance with industry standards.