Network Traffic Analysis Foundations
Intro Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) can be described as the systematic examination of network traffic with the objective of understanding how data flows through an environment, identifying normal behavior, and detecting deviations that may indicate security threats or operational issues. By analyzing ports, protocols, and communication patterns, security professionals are able to establish a baseline for expected activity and monitor for anomalies that may signal malicious behavior. This process is especially valuable because network traffic represents the ground truth of what is actually happening in an environment. Logs and alerts can be incomplete or misleading, but traffic captures reveal real interactions between hosts. Through continuous observation and analysis, defenders can identify threats early, investigate suspicious activity, and gain a deeper understanding of their organization’s network behavior. ...