What is Port Monitoring? Network Security (2024)

Port monitoring, a critical process for network security, involves observing network traffic to identify anomalies and potential threats. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems often incorporate port monitoring to aggregate data from various sources, providing a comprehensive view of network activities. Understanding what is port monitoring requires recognizing that it allows security teams to examine specific Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports, enabling proactive threat detection. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring, including port monitoring, as a key component of a robust cybersecurity framework.

Understanding the Vital Role of Port Monitoring in Network Security

In today’s interconnected digital world, network security stands as a paramount concern for organizations of all sizes. One of the most fundamental, yet often overlooked, aspects of maintaining a robust security posture is port monitoring. This practice involves observing network traffic flowing through specific ports to identify anomalies, detect threats, and optimize network performance. It’s crucial to understand why actively monitoring network ports is essential.

Ports: The Gateways of Network Communication

At the heart of network communication lies the concept of ports. These act as virtual doorways through which data enters and exits a device. Each port is associated with a specific application or service, allowing for organized and efficient data transmission. Understanding the roles of TCP and UDP ports is critical for effective port monitoring.

TCP vs. UDP: Understanding the Key Differences

Two primary protocols govern internet communication: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

• TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, meaning it establishes a dedicated connection between devices before transmitting data. This provides a reliable and ordered data transfer. TCP is used in applications where data integrity is essential, such as web browsing (HTTP/HTTPS), email (SMTP), and file transfer (FTP).

• UDP, on the other hand, is a connectionless protocol. It sends data without establishing a connection. This makes it faster but less reliable. UDP is favored for applications where speed is more critical than guaranteed delivery, such as video streaming, online gaming, and DNS lookups.

Common Network Protocols and Their Associated Ports

Different network protocols utilize specific ports for communication. Monitoring these ports is essential for security and performance analysis. Here are some key examples:

• HTTP (Port 80): The foundation of the World Wide Web, HTTP is used for transmitting web pages and other online content.
• HTTPS (Port 443): The secure version of HTTP, HTTPS encrypts data transmitted between a web server and a browser, protecting sensitive information.
• FTP (Ports 20 & 21): Used for transferring files between computers on a network.
• SSH (Port 22): Provides a secure and encrypted connection for remote access to a computer.
• SMTP (Port 25): The standard protocol for sending email messages.
• DNS (Port 53): Translates domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites by name rather than numerical address.

Why Monitoring Specific Protocols Matters

Monitoring traffic on these common ports provides valuable insights into network activity. Unexpected traffic patterns on standard ports can signal security threats, such as malware infections, unauthorized access attempts, or data exfiltration. For example, detecting unusually high traffic on port 25 (SMTP) could indicate a spam botnet operating within the network.

Furthermore, monitoring these protocols aids in performance optimization. Analyzing traffic patterns on ports used by critical applications can identify bottlenecks and optimize resource allocation. For instance, tracking bandwidth usage on port 443 (HTTPS) can help identify slow-loading web pages or overloaded servers.

By closely monitoring network ports and understanding the protocols they support, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and improve network performance. This proactive approach is essential for navigating the complexities of today’s digital landscape and mitigating potential risks.

Network Monitoring Techniques: Capturing and Analyzing Data

Effective port monitoring relies on employing the right techniques to capture and analyze network traffic. These techniques provide visibility into network activities, enabling security professionals to identify anomalies, detect threats, and optimize network performance. This section explores several essential network monitoring techniques, emphasizing their relevance to understanding and securing port activity.

Network Traffic Analysis (NTA): A Deep Dive into Threat Detection

Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) is a critical component of modern security strategies. It involves the real-time or historical analysis of network traffic data to identify suspicious behavior, detect threats, and gain insights into network performance.

NTA solutions analyze network packets, flow data, and other relevant information to build a comprehensive understanding of network activities.

By examining traffic patterns, NTA can detect a wide range of threats, including:

• Malware infections
• Unauthorized access attempts
• Data exfiltration
• Anomalous communication patterns

NTA is particularly valuable for port monitoring because it can identify unusual or malicious traffic directed at specific ports. For example, NTA can detect port scanning activities, where an attacker systematically probes open ports to identify potential vulnerabilities. Also, detecting unexpected traffic on a specific port, such as port 22 (SSH) originating from an unknown source, can indicate a potential security breach.

Packet Sniffing: Understanding the Implications

Packet sniffing, also known as packet capture, involves intercepting and logging network traffic at the packet level. This technique provides a granular view of data flowing across the network, allowing security professionals to examine the contents of individual packets. While powerful, packet sniffing has significant security and privacy implications, requiring careful consideration and adherence to ethical guidelines.

By capturing packets, security professionals can analyze:

• Source and destination IP addresses
• Port numbers
• Protocol headers
• Payload data

This level of detail is invaluable for troubleshooting network issues, analyzing application behavior, and investigating security incidents.

Security Implications of Packet Sniffing

Packet sniffing can expose sensitive data if not implemented and managed securely.

Cleartext protocols, such as HTTP or FTP, transmit data without encryption, making them vulnerable to eavesdropping. Attackers can use packet sniffing to capture usernames, passwords, and other confidential information.

Ethical and legal considerations are paramount when conducting packet sniffing. Organizations must have clear policies and procedures in place to ensure that packet capture is only used for legitimate purposes, such as security monitoring and incident response, and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect sensitive data.

NetFlow/IPFIX and sFlow: Collecting IP Traffic Information

NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow are network protocols designed to collect IP traffic information from network devices, such as routers and switches. These technologies provide a summarized view of network traffic, capturing data about flows of packets rather than the packets themselves. This approach reduces the overhead associated with packet sniffing while still providing valuable insights into network activity, including port usage.

NetFlow and IPFIX are similar protocols, with IPFIX being an IETF standard based on NetFlow v9. sFlow is a competing protocol that uses a sampling technique to collect traffic information.

All three protocols collect data such as:

• Source and destination IP addresses
• Source and destination port numbers
• Protocol type
• Traffic volume
• Timestamps

This information can be used to analyze network traffic patterns, identify bandwidth usage, and detect security threats.

Monitoring Port Usage with Flow Data

NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow are particularly useful for monitoring port usage across the network.

By analyzing flow data, security professionals can:

• Identify the applications and services using specific ports
• Track traffic volumes on each port
• Detect unusual port activity

For example, an unexpected increase in traffic on port 445 (SMB) could indicate a potential ransomware infection or lateral movement within the network.

In conclusion, a combination of NTA, packet sniffing (when ethically and legally permissible), and flow data analysis provides a comprehensive view of network traffic, enabling security professionals to effectively monitor port activity, detect threats, and optimize network performance.

Security Systems and Port Monitoring: A Layered Approach

In the realm of network security, port monitoring isn’t a standalone solution but rather a critical component integrated within a layered defense strategy. Various security systems leverage port monitoring capabilities to enhance network protection and improve the overall security posture. By understanding how these systems utilize port monitoring, organizations can build more robust and resilient defenses against cyber threats.

NIDS/NIPS and Port Monitoring: Detecting and Preventing Intrusions

Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) and Network Intrusion Prevention Systems (NIPS) heavily rely on port monitoring for threat detection and prevention. NIDS passively monitor network traffic, analyzing packets for suspicious patterns and known attack signatures. NIPS, on the other hand, actively block or mitigate malicious traffic based on predefined rules and real-time analysis.

Both NIDS and NIPS use port monitoring to:

• Identify unauthorized access attempts to specific ports.
• Detect port scanning activities, which often precede attacks.
• Recognize traffic patterns associated with known malware or exploits.

By correlating port activity with other network events, NIDS/NIPS can provide a more complete picture of potential threats and take appropriate action.

Firewalls: Controlling Network Access with Port-Based Filtering

Firewalls are a fundamental security component responsible for controlling network access based on predefined rules. Port-based filtering is a core function of firewalls, allowing them to permit or deny traffic based on the source and destination ports.

Firewalls utilize port monitoring to:

• Block unauthorized access to sensitive services running on specific ports.
• Prevent outbound connections to malicious servers or botnet command-and-control centers.
• Enforce network segmentation by restricting traffic between different network zones based on port usage.

By carefully configuring firewall rules based on port numbers and protocols, organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface and prevent many common types of cyberattacks.

Predefined Rules for Identifying Suspicious Port Activity

NIDS/NIPS employ predefined rules to identify suspicious port activity and potential threats. These rules are based on known attack patterns, vulnerability signatures, and common indicators of compromise.

Examples of predefined rules include:

• Alerting on excessive connection attempts to a specific port within a short period of time (indicative of port scanning).
• Detecting traffic to known malicious IP addresses or domains on specific ports.
• Identifying traffic patterns associated with specific malware families on commonly used ports.

These rules are constantly updated by security vendors and researchers to address emerging threats and ensure effective threat detection. Custom rules can also be created to address specific organizational needs or concerns.

TLS/SSL: Securing Communication and Port Monitoring Implications

Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over a network. They encrypt data transmitted between client and server, protecting it from eavesdropping and tampering.

The widespread use of TLS/SSL has implications for port monitoring. While the encryption protects the content of the communication, the port numbers used for encrypted traffic are still visible. This information can be used to:

• Identify the type of application or service being used (e.g., HTTPS on port 443).
• Detect anomalous traffic patterns even if the content is encrypted.
• Monitor the volume of encrypted traffic to identify potential bandwidth issues.

Advanced NIDS/NIPS solutions can perform TLS/SSL inspection to further analyze encrypted traffic, but this requires careful consideration of performance and privacy implications.

SIEM Systems: Correlating Port Activity with Other Security Logs

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems collect and correlate security logs from various sources across the network, including firewalls, NIDS/NIPS, servers, and applications. Port monitoring data is a valuable input for SIEM systems, enabling them to identify threats that might otherwise go unnoticed.

SIEM systems correlate port activity with:

• Authentication logs to detect unauthorized access attempts.
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) data to identify malware infections.
• Vulnerability scan results to prioritize remediation efforts.

By providing a centralized view of security events and correlating data from multiple sources, SIEM systems enhance threat detection capabilities and improve incident response efficiency.

Practical Applications of Port Monitoring: Beyond Security

Port monitoring is often viewed primarily as a security tool, but its utility extends far beyond threat detection. By analyzing network traffic patterns and port activity, organizations can gain valuable insights into network performance, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall network efficiency. This section explores the practical applications of port monitoring outside the security domain, focusing on bandwidth monitoring and network segmentation.

Bandwidth Monitoring: Optimizing Network Performance

One of the most significant non-security applications of port monitoring is bandwidth management. Tracking data transfer volumes through specific ports provides crucial information for identifying bandwidth bottlenecks, understanding application usage patterns, and optimizing network resource allocation.

By monitoring ports associated with high-bandwidth applications (e.g., video streaming, large file transfers), administrators can pinpoint areas where network performance is being constrained.

This allows for targeted interventions, such as prioritizing critical traffic, implementing Quality of Service (QoS) policies, or upgrading network infrastructure.

Furthermore, port monitoring enables organizations to identify and address rogue applications or unauthorized services that may be consuming excessive bandwidth, impacting the performance of legitimate network traffic.

For example, detecting unusually high traffic on a non-standard port could indicate the presence of a peer-to-peer file sharing application or an unauthorized streaming service. Addressing these issues can free up valuable bandwidth and improve the overall network experience for all users.

Monitoring Data Transfer

To optimize network performance, it’s essential to monitor data transfer through specific ports. The steps include:

1. Identify key ports: Determine the ports commonly used by critical applications and services.
2. Set thresholds: Establish baseline traffic levels and define thresholds for acceptable usage.
3. Monitor in real-time: Use port monitoring tools to track data transfer volumes in real-time.
4. Analyze trends: Identify patterns and trends in port activity to proactively address potential bottlenecks.
5. Take action: Implement QoS policies, prioritize traffic, or upgrade infrastructure based on monitoring results.

By actively monitoring these ports, you can gain granular visibility into the data flow, allowing for better bandwidth allocation and management.

Network Segmentation: Preventing Threat Propagation

Network segmentation is a security best practice that involves dividing a network into smaller, isolated segments. This reduces the attack surface and limits the potential impact of security breaches. Port monitoring plays a vital role in enforcing and validating network segmentation policies.

By monitoring traffic flow between network segments, administrators can ensure that communication is restricted to authorized ports and services. Any unauthorized traffic attempting to cross segment boundaries can be quickly identified and blocked, preventing threats from spreading laterally across the network.

For example, if a workstation in the marketing department attempts to establish a connection to a database server on a port that is not explicitly permitted, the intrusion will be flagged immediately. This can indicate a compromised system attempting to access sensitive data.

Port monitoring also helps to verify the effectiveness of segmentation policies. By analyzing traffic patterns, organizations can identify any unintended communication paths between segments and refine their segmentation rules accordingly. This ensures that the network remains properly isolated and protected against internal and external threats.

Ensuring Segmentation Effectiveness

Port monitoring is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of network segmentation. The steps include:

1. Define segmentation rules: Establish clear rules for traffic flow between network segments.
2. Implement access control lists (ACLs): Configure firewalls and routers with ACLs to enforce segmentation policies.
3. Monitor traffic: Use port monitoring tools to track traffic flow between segments.
4. Identify anomalies: Detect unauthorized traffic attempting to cross segment boundaries.
5. Review and update: Regularly review segmentation rules and update them based on changing network needs and security threats.

By following these steps, you can validate and enforce your segmentation policies, enhancing overall network security.

Tools for Port Monitoring: Your Digital Toolkit

Effectively monitoring network ports requires a diverse arsenal of tools, each with unique capabilities and applications. This section explores some of the most prominent and valuable tools in the field, ranging from packet analyzers to SIEM platforms, providing insights into their functionalities and use cases.

Packet Analyzers: Wireshark and tcpdump

Packet analyzers are essential for dissecting network traffic at the most granular level. They allow administrators to capture and examine individual packets, providing invaluable insights into network behavior and potential security threats.

Wireshark: The Graphical Powerhouse

Wireshark is a widely used, open-source packet analyzer with a user-friendly graphical interface. It supports the capture and analysis of network traffic in real-time, allowing users to filter and inspect packets based on various criteria, such as protocol, source/destination IP address, and port number.

Wireshark’s powerful features include:
Protocol dissection for hundreds of protocols. Advanced filtering capabilities to isolate specific traffic patterns.
The ability to follow TCP streams to reconstruct conversations. Color-coding of packets to visually identify different traffic types.

tcpdump: The Command-Line Warrior

tcpdump is a command-line packet analyzer that provides a powerful and flexible way to capture and analyze network traffic. While lacking a graphical interface, tcpdump’s versatility and efficiency make it a favorite among seasoned network administrators.

tcpdump shines in scenarios where a lightweight and resource-efficient solution is required, such as on embedded systems or remote servers. Its key features include:

• Powerful filtering options using Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) syntax.
• The ability to capture traffic to a file for later analysis.
• Support for various capture interfaces and network devices.
• Real-time traffic monitoring and analysis.

Network Scanners: Nmap

Network scanners play a crucial role in discovering hosts and services running on a network. Nmap (Network Mapper) stands out as a versatile and widely used tool for this purpose.

Nmap can identify open ports, operating systems, and services running on target hosts. This information is invaluable for vulnerability assessments, security audits, and network reconnaissance.

Key Nmap capabilities include:

• Port scanning to identify open, closed, and filtered ports.
• Service detection to determine the applications running on open ports.
• Operating system detection to identify the underlying OS of target hosts.
• Scripting Engine (NSE) for automating complex scanning tasks.

SIEM Platforms: Splunk

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms provide a centralized solution for collecting, analyzing, and correlating security logs from various sources, including network devices, servers, and applications.

Splunk is a leading SIEM platform that excels at ingesting and analyzing vast amounts of data, providing real-time insights into security events and potential threats. Splunk’s ability to correlate port monitoring data with other security logs makes it an invaluable tool for threat detection and incident response.

Splunk’s key features include:

• Real-time log collection and indexing.
• Powerful search and analysis capabilities.
• Correlation of security events from multiple sources.
• Customizable dashboards and reports.
• Alerting and incident response workflows.

Log Management and Analytics: The ELK Stack

The ELK Stack, consisting of Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana, is a popular open-source logging and analytics platform. It provides a scalable and flexible solution for collecting, processing, and visualizing log data from various sources.

The ELK Stack can be used to analyze network traffic data, identify security threats, and monitor network performance. Its open-source nature and extensive community support make it an attractive option for organizations of all sizes.

The components of the ELK Stack are:

• Elasticsearch: A distributed search and analytics engine.
• Logstash: A data processing pipeline for collecting and transforming data.
• Kibana: A visualization and exploration tool for analyzing data in Elasticsearch.

Network Threat Detection: Suricata and Snort

Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) are crucial for identifying malicious activity on a network. Suricata and Snort are two leading open-source NIDS engines that leverage port monitoring to detect potential threats.

Suricata: The High-Performance Engine

Suricata is a high-performance network threat detection and monitoring engine capable of real-time intrusion detection, inline intrusion prevention, network security monitoring, and offline pcap processing.

Suricata’s key features include:

• Multi-threading for high-performance packet processing.
• Support for standard intrusion detection rule sets.
• Protocol identification and anomaly detection.
• Integration with other security tools and platforms.

Snort: The Widely-Used IDS

Snort is a widely-deployed open-source intrusion detection system (IDS) capable of performing real-time traffic analysis and packet logging. Snort uses a rule-based detection engine to identify malicious activity based on predefined signatures.

Snort’s key features include:

• Rule-based detection engine for identifying known threats.
• Real-time traffic analysis and packet logging.
• Extensive community support and rule set updates.
• Flexible deployment options.

Security Onion: The Comprehensive Platform

Security Onion is a free and open-source Linux distribution designed for threat hunting, security monitoring, and log management. It integrates various security tools, including Snort, Suricata, Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana, and more, into a single, easy-to-use platform.

Security Onion simplifies the deployment and management of a comprehensive security monitoring solution, making it an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their security posture.

Security Onion capabilities include:

• Centralized management of security tools.
• Pre-configured dashboards and reports.
• Automated alerting and incident response workflows.
• Easy integration with other security platforms.

Port Monitoring for Threat Detection: Identifying Malicious Activity

Port monitoring is an indispensable component of a robust security strategy, acting as an early warning system for a wide range of malicious activities. By meticulously observing network port behavior, security professionals can identify anomalies and patterns indicative of compromise, data breaches, and other cyber threats. This section delves into specific threat scenarios and how port monitoring enables their detection.

Reconnaissance: Unmasking Port Scanning Activities

Attackers often begin their campaigns with reconnaissance, and port scanning is a common technique used to map the network landscape. By systematically probing different ports on target systems, attackers aim to identify open ports and the services associated with them. This provides valuable information about potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.

Port monitoring plays a crucial role in detecting port scanning activities by identifying unusual patterns of connection attempts.
Specifically, it looks for a high volume of connection attempts to various ports from a single source IP address within a short period. Detecting such activity should trigger alerts for further investigation.

Mitigating DoS and DDoS Attacks

Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks aim to overwhelm a system or network with malicious traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. These attacks often target specific ports, flooding them with requests to exhaust resources and disrupt services.

Port monitoring is invaluable for detecting DoS and DDoS attacks by observing sudden spikes in traffic volume to particular ports.
An abnormal increase in connection attempts or data transfer rates, particularly on commonly used ports like 80 (HTTP) or 443 (HTTPS), can indicate an ongoing attack. Early detection allows for timely mitigation strategies, such as traffic filtering or rate limiting.

Detecting Command and Control (C&C) Communication

Malware often establishes communication with a command and control (C&C) server to receive instructions, download additional payloads, or exfiltrate stolen data. This communication typically occurs over specific ports, either using standard protocols or custom protocols designed to evade detection.

Port monitoring can help identify C&C communication by looking for suspicious network connections originating from compromised systems. This includes connections to unusual or uncommon ports, connections to known malicious IP addresses or domains, and connections that exhibit anomalous traffic patterns. Furthermore, examining the data transmitted over these ports can reveal indicators of malware activity.

Thwarting Data Exfiltration Attempts

Data exfiltration, the unauthorized transfer of sensitive data from an organization, is a major concern for security professionals. Attackers may attempt to exfiltrate data over various ports, often disguising the traffic as legitimate communication.

Port monitoring can aid in detecting data exfiltration by analyzing the traffic patterns on specific ports. This includes monitoring for unusually large data transfers, transfers to unknown or suspicious destinations, and traffic that deviates from established baselines. Deep packet inspection can also be used to identify sensitive data being transmitted over specific ports.

Identifying the Early Stages of Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks often involve a series of stages, and port monitoring can play a role in detecting the initial phases. Before encryption begins, ransomware may attempt to spread laterally within the network, scan for vulnerable systems, or establish communication with C&C servers.

By monitoring port activity, administrators can detect suspicious scanning behavior, unusual SMB (Server Message Block) traffic, or attempts to connect to known ransomware-related IP addresses. These early warning signs can provide crucial time to contain the attack before significant damage occurs.

Exposing Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks involve an attacker intercepting communication between two parties, often to eavesdrop or manipulate the data being exchanged. These attacks can be difficult to detect, but port monitoring can provide valuable insights.

Anomalous port activity such as traffic being redirected to unexpected ports or unusual SSL/TLS certificate exchanges can be indicators of a MitM attack. Baseline port activity should be established as normal to improve the ability to identify anomalous activity. Correlating port monitoring data with other security logs can help uncover suspicious patterns and identify potential MitM attacks.

Roles and Responsibilities: The Human Element

While sophisticated tools automate much of port monitoring, the human element remains critical. The expertise of skilled professionals is essential for interpreting data, contextualizing alerts, and responding effectively to threats. This section outlines the key roles and responsibilities of security professionals who rely on port monitoring in their daily tasks.

Network Security Analysts: Guardians of Network Traffic

Network security analysts are at the forefront of monitoring network traffic. Their primary responsibility is to maintain the security posture of the network.

They achieve this by continuously monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities, unusual patterns, and policy violations.

This includes closely examining port activity, analyzing traffic flows, and identifying potential security risks.
They are responsible for configuring and managing port monitoring tools, setting thresholds, and creating alerts that trigger when anomalous behavior is detected.

Additionally, network security analysts must possess a deep understanding of network protocols, security principles, and common attack vectors.

They are also responsible for conducting regular security assessments, identifying vulnerabilities, and recommending mitigation strategies to improve the network’s overall security.

SOC Analysts: Orchestrating Threat Detection and Response

Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts play a pivotal role in identifying, analyzing, and responding to security incidents.

They leverage port monitoring data, in conjunction with other security logs and intelligence feeds, to gain a comprehensive view of the security landscape.

SOC analysts monitor security events generated by port monitoring tools.
These tools aggregate security data across diverse systems.

This aggregation provides a centralized view for analyzing and identifying potential threats.
They investigate alerts, correlate events, and determine the severity and scope of security incidents.

Based on their analysis, SOC analysts escalate incidents to incident responders, providing them with critical information and context.
They also contribute to the development and refinement of security policies, procedures, and incident response plans.

Incident Responders: Containing and Eradicating Threats

Incident responders are the front-line troops when a security incident occurs. They are responsible for containing, eradicating, and recovering from security breaches.

Port monitoring data is a crucial resource for incident responders.
They use this to understand the scope and impact of an incident.

By analyzing port activity, incident responders can trace the path of an attack, identify compromised systems, and determine the extent of data exfiltration.
They utilize port monitoring data to identify the source of the attack.

They also use it to track the attacker’s activities within the network.

This information is essential for developing effective containment and eradication strategies. Incident responders also work to restore affected systems and data, and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Furthermore, they document their findings and contribute to post-incident analysis to improve the organization’s security posture. Their swift and decisive actions minimize the damage and disruption caused by security incidents.

So, there you have it! What is port monitoring? It’s essentially your network’s eyes and ears, keeping a close watch on traffic. Understanding the basics is the first step in beefing up your security and making sure everything runs smoothly. Hopefully, this gave you a good starting point!