Today’s businesses cannot work effectively without networks, as they are the most vital physical means of communication. However, in any organization they are used to store customer information, to share with clients, and to host applications. But with this advanced technology, more dangers of hacking are realized. So this is why cybersecurity remains a vital issue because hackers are never at ease when it comes to probing a network. Moreover, the most efficient process of traffic monitoring for network security is traffic control.
There are two main types of network traffic to monitor. Firstly, the North-South route and the East-West route. Thus, these are terms that explain data flow in and out of the network.
North-South Traffic Monitoring for Network Security Refers to?
The term North-South traffic describes the transfer of information that occurs between the LAN and a foreign network or the Internet. You might want to think of it as the ‘’doorways’’ and ‘’exit’’ to the network. So it’s like controlling the flow of things entering and leaving a building through the doors.
Moreover, North-South Traffic monitoring refers to the tracking, surveillance as well as the managing of this flow of data. It identifies the issues that are considered as unauthorized activities.
For example:
When a user downloads a file from the internet, then that data is transmitted from North to South.
Even when employees are communicating outside the organization, this is also North-South traffic.
Why North-South Monitoring is important?
North-South monitoring is important because the threats originate chiefly from outside of the company. Hackers will seek to introduce more viruses, malware, or phishing emails into the company’s network. So through monitoring this traffic, organizations can detect:
- Unauthorized access attempts.
- Security concerns on downloads or uploads.
- The threat originates outside the network as malware gets into the network system.
For example, a firewall is a tool that is deployed for North-South traffic monitoring. So it is also called a firewall, functioning as a traffic policing force, inspecting the incoming and outgoing packets to conform with security policies.
Why East-West Monitoring is important?
East-West Traffic Monitoring is concerned with the controlling, observation, and measurement of traffic in an east-west manner.
Whereas North-South is concerned only with data traffic to and from the outside world, the East-West is the intranet traffic, or data had within the network. So imagine it more as corridors in a building, where people work, and switch from one room to another.
In a network, East-West traffic happens when:
- Two servers exchange data.
- A user invokes a shared file located on another host.
- Appointments within a particular network use the system to communicate with other appointments.
The most significant aspect is that East-West traffic needs to be watched to understand such internal data transmission.
Why is it important?
As it stresses widespread not only external threats: (North-South traffic), but also internal threats can be very dangerous. In the case where a hacker for instance got past the external layer of security then the person would have free reign within the network.
For example:
- Viruses, for instance, can transfer from one server to another.
- Employee might pose is that he/she may stumble on information, that this employee should not be privileged to.
- A hacker may decide to move around in the network looking for something significant to obtain. Since sometimes, accounts that seem to be of no value may contain important information.
However, with careful monitoring of East-West traffic, organizations can detect:
- Unauthorized entry into systems or files.
- The moving of data in the network raises suspicion.
- Intramural viruses infect one sub-system to another.
Why is Traffic Monitoring Important for Network Protection?
Monitoring of traffic is one of the largest scales that affects the strength of network security. So here’s why it’s critical:
1. Detecting Cyber Threats
However, this has made hackers and other cybercriminals seek opportunities through which they can infiltrate business organizations. So with the help of NS traffic, the organization can identify external threats.
For example, unauthorized access or the presence of viruses in the network. Likewise, the east-west monitoring supports the internal threats or significant traffic moving inside the network.
2. Preventing Data Breaches
Due to data breaches, they lose enormous revenues and have their reputation tarnished. So traffic analysis facilitates prevention strategies for Organizations because one can identify threats before they can attack.
For instance, if malware gets into the network, then using the tools available in the KnujOnTM platform, can easily be detected.
3. Minimizing Internal Risks
In some cases, the danger is internal. This can be the act of an insider who is planning on bringing negative change or misinformation that has leaked from an employee. So monitoring traffic flow between east and west makes it possible to identify any undesired access.
4. Ensuring Compliance
Foremost several industries for example the health sector and the financial sector have tightly held norms about data protection. So traffic monitoring makes organizations adhere to these regulations because they show that an organization has good security measures in place.
Tools and Technologies for Effective Traffic Monitoring
In traffic monitoring, there are numerous tools and technologies that one can use in delivering his or her services. So some of the most common ones include:
1. Firewalls: Firewalls police the North-South communication and limit access to materials.
2. Integrated Detection System: Integrated Detection System IDS works to scrutinize incoming traffic for any form of attack or perhaps any suspicious action.
3. Endpoint Detection and Response: EDR solutions provide continuous endpoints, including computers IT, and servers, for anomalous behaviors.
4. SIEM: SIEM systems are those that capture the data traffic and extract from it the threats that are present in the system.
Challenges Of Traffic Monitoring
While traffic monitoring is crucial, it comes with some challenges:
1. High Network Traffic
Big organizations deal with a great volume of data, and it is almost impossible to track all of these in real time.
2. Encrypted Traffic
Encryption is used on many applications for the protection of the data. So though it is beneficial to privacy, for traffic monitoring it is somewhat unfavorable.
3. False Positives
Some monitoring tools will pick up legitimate activities and present them as threats, which is something of a false alarm.
However, these problems give hints that modern tools and strategies work effectively to overcome these problems.
Guidelines for monitoring traffic
Here are some best practices to ensure effective traffic monitoring:
- It is important as well to self-monitor, meaning that individuals working in the respective organizations have to watch themselves meticulously.
- Buy systems that can closely monitor and alert users on events that may be exceptional in normal activity.
- Make a check and modify the firewall’ policies as well as monitoring settings to ensure maximum security.
- Encryption of data are important step to take to avoid letting someone unauthorized to get to sensitive information.
- Moreover, inform managers and employees about potential threats to the company and teach them how to avoid mistakes.
Conclusion
North-South traffic monitoring for network security makes it impossible for dangerous data to infiltrate the network. Moreover, it prevents the threat from spreading in the network. Altogether, they develop a very effective wall.
So hiring more talented and experienced nurses, and taking more initiatives can help the business protect the networks and avoid terrible cyber-threatening attacks.
So, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, remember traffic monitoring is never an option. That is why it is important to maintain your network secure.
