What Is a Network TAP and How Does It Secure Your System?
6 Benefits of Using Network TAPs to Secure Your System
What Is a Network TAP and How Does It Work?
What Is a Network TAP and Why Is It Important?
Attackers are constantly looking for tools that will make their job easier. For them, it’s about working smart, not hard. The best way to match their energy is to deploy the smartest security strategies, not necessarily the most difficult ones.
Securing your network effectively boils down to your ability to leverage the various automated tools at your disposal, and network TAP is of one those. Here’s a detailed look at just what network TAPs can do.
What Is a Network TAP?
A network TAP is a hardware device that you place in a network, particularly between two of its connected appliances (such as a switch, router, or firewall) to monitor the network traffic. TAP stands for Test Access Point, and a network TAP is an independent or stand-alone device. You can use it to duplicate the activities within your network by copying information from the nodes.
TAPs are primarily used for network surveillance. You can leverage them to keep an eye on your network to detect any malicious or suspicious vectors in the traffic.
How Does a Network TAP Work?
Network TAPs are external devices, but they are not part of your network infrastructure. They are built to run in the background without disrupting your network’s performance. This independence allows you to configure them as much as you could to get the most results.
Network TAPs can’t analyze the data they collect from a network. They channel the information to a designated monitor port. you may then use a third-party tool to analyze the data from the port. They don’t rely on the connected network’s resources to operate. Even when the network is dysfunctional, these devices can run in the background.
A network TAP is a better alternative for SPAN (Switch Port Analyzer), another device you could use to mirror ports. But whereas SPAN gets overwhelmed with heavy traffic, the TAP can function effectively.
The TAP has 100% authenticity. It can duplicate the exact copy of the data it receives from the network appliances it connects to. Rest assured that you won’t lose any data as it offers high-end security tomaintain data privacy.
There’s two-way communication between the two appliances you connect the TAP to. It’s so efficient, it simultaneously collects the information both endpoints are sending and receiving in real time. It also stores the data sets from both nodes in separate channels so there’s no mix-up.
Network TAPs are scalable. You can duplicate a single copy of the data or multiple copies, based on your needs and the capacity of your monitoring device. They are also built with high capacity that allows you to aggregate the network traffic without a breakdown.
Network TAPs don’t present any hacking concerns or worries, especially as they don’t have any IP or MAC address that cyber actors can penetrate or trace. The data sets they generate are secure and remain authentic pending when you make use of them.
What Are the Benefits of a Network TAP
Part of your responsibility as a network owner or operator is to secure your system, and doing that requires constant monitoring. Sitting at your desk 24/7 on the lookout out for suspicious activities on your application is a stretch. you could automate the process with a network TAP and enjoy the following benefits.
1. All-Round Network Visibility
Network TAP doesn’t record a fraction of traffic in your network but the entire traffic. It has a high precision level that collects the same copy of the data the two nodes you connect it to transmit.
Unlike some systems that alter data in transit, TAP maintains the data’s original quality and condition. You can understand the performance and security standing of your system by analyzing the traffic data. The analysis results will give you insights into any anomalies and guide you in resolving them effectively.
2. One-Off Installation and Configuration
The user experience of any hardware or software tool begins with the installation process. Some of those tools require rigorous technical steps that aren’t easy to grasp, especially if you aren’t the most tech-savvy. Unless you get the help of experts, there isn’t much you can do.
The basic Network TAPs only require you to insert the hardware between the connecting systems’ endpoints. Although the more advanced TAPs need some configurations in the management and monitor ports, it’s a one-off procedure, particularly during the initial setup. As long as you do the configuration properly, it’ll collect and process data from the connected devices subsequently without requiring your attention.
3. Flexibility of Use
Network TAPs are not only easy to configure but also flexible to use in various situations. They don’t have specific requirements for links you can connect them to. You can use them on any link you want to monitor and they’ll be compatible.
TAPs are not restricted to on-premise switches. You can install them remotely if you have extra copper or fiber in the location.
4. Legal Evidence
With the high sensitivity arounddata privacy and usage, you may find yourself in litigation over activities on your network. You’ll have to argue your case in court for a favorable outcome.
A network TAP records data with complete accuracy and time reference. As a result of this, it’s recognized in court as credible evidence.
Network TAPs are particularly recognized in Lawful Intercept and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) cases.
5. Anti-Hacking
Cybercriminals meet their match in network TAPs. It’s one of the very few devices that are resistant to hacking despite theprevalence of hardware hacking. Even if they target and hack the links you connect the TAP to, their attack has no impact on it. If anything, it’ll record the attack and any impact it may have on the links.
This is indeed a breath of fresh air and an opportunity for you to monitor and collect traffic data to your network without any hassle.
6. Utilize Multiple Monitoring Devices
You may need more than one monitoring tool to examine your network performance, especially when you are checking various aspects. Since TAP can withstand high traffic without crashing, you can connect it to your multiple monitoring ports. It helps you save time and resources that you would have spent performing the tasks separately.
Resolving Cyber Threats With Network TAPs
When you possess valuable data sets, installing effective security in your network is an urgent need. If you fail to do so, hackers won’t hesitate to compromise them.
Network TAPs update you with real-time traffic information in your network so you can identify pending or rising threats. With such information, you have an edge over attackers as you can take action rapidly.
Don’t wait for the hackers to come to you. Seek out your vulnerabilities and proactively prevent the next attack.
These are the best free movies I found on Tubi, but there are heaps more for you to search through.
OneDrive is one of the best, but it has a catch.
I plugged random USB devices into my phone and was pleasantly surprised by how many actually worked.
It’s not super flashy, but it can help to keep your computer up and running.
Not all true crime is about hacking, slashing, and gore.
