Network Operations (NetOps) and Security Operations (SecOps) teams once sat on opposite sides of the channel, unwittingly pulling the same rope. The uptime and connectivity lauded by NetOps professionals and the threat detection and prevention goals of dedicated SecOps teams have always complemented one another, even when the methods, tools, and workflows were decidedly different.
Today’s fast-paced, data-centric network environments have brought the synergies between these groups into sharp focus, while emphasizing the need for improved collaboration to navigate today’s IT complexities. As the once-disconnected teams establish a new working paradigm, packet capture has emerged as a foundational element for unified solutions.
NetOps vs SecOps: Why the Divide?
Network operations teams focus on maintaining performance, reliability, and availability to meet the expectations of discerning clients and customers, while security operations groups are committed to protecting the network from data breaches, malicious software, and other cyber threats. The line separating these functions is a thin one, when you consider the adverse impact of security issues on performance and reliability and the many ways insufficient network monitoring and maintenance can open the door to malicious intruders. These interdependencies have only grown stronger with hybrid cloud models complicating visibility for both sides.
Packet capture in the unified toolkit
The tools of the trade for performance and security monitoring have been running along parallel paths, with SecOps relying on event management software and forensic capabilities to detect and diagnose suspicious occurrences, while performance teams keep close tabs on metrics like latency, throughput, and jitter to maintain service integrity.
Network packet capture is the common denominator allowing both groups to boost efficiency, improve troubleshooting prowess, and streamline operations for strategic impact, with enhanced collaboration as a byproduct.
Bridging Performance and Security through Packets
To fulfill their potential as the ultimate source of network truth, packets required an assist from software and appliances that could deliver economical high-volume storage while isolating the packets that mattered most without wading through massive PCAP files. As the solutions evolved to match the intentions, packet capture analysis emerged as the centerpiece of a unified approach.
Why less is more
With hybrid networks producing more data and leaving more evidence in their wake, the idea of leveraging tiny packets of data to resolve complex network performance and security issues may seem counterintuitive, but the right packets can be the key to turning complex problems into clear solutions quickly. In the performance realm, this means leveraging packet header and payload data to identify the specific server, application, client, or network link responsible for macro-level issues like latency, jitter, or downtime.
The less is more adage also holds true in the security realm, with flow data sounding the alarm when unusual traffic patterns indicate potential intrusions, and packet capture providing an index of who was communicating on the network at any point in time, and what applications may have been compromised. The right packets paint a vivid, full-color picture with just a few brush strokes.
Scalability & Agility
Unprecedented traffic volume is being accompanied by uncompromising customer expectations, so security and performance objectives can only be maintained when network performance monitoring solutions resolve issues quickly and decisively without overtaxing IT resources or data storage capacity. Tools that can economically retain and filter large packet captures to find actionable insights provide the scalability that traditional monitoring methods lack.
Network agility is defined as the ability to adapt to infrastructure changes and traffic fluctuations while maintaining high performance and security standards. Packet capture and analysis capabilities enhance agility by simplifying complex workflows using intuitive dashboards, customizable views, and breadcrumb trails that boost efficiency and minimize Mean Time to Know (MTTK).
Packets to burn down risk
Another key to addressing complex IT problems over time is managing the risk across various functions through a standardized approach. Packets support this objective by providing a common frame of reference to assign risk levels and measure performance. For NetOps teams, packets might be used to assess errors and throughput, while security risks are defined based on threats and exposures verified through packet-level analysis.
Effective risk management is yet another example of NetOps, SecOps, and full packet capture converging in a beneficial way. The availability of past and present packet capture data as a shared resource allows risks to be quantified on an apples-to-apples basis so that mitigation activities can be assigned and prioritized equitably.
Explore the Future of IT Alignment and Success
The alignment of performance and security objectives is more important than ever. Packet capture solutions empower business leaders to narrow the gap, utilizing cost-effective solutions to retain critical information longer and resolve issues faster. The VIAVI Observer Platform and Observer GigaStor provide forensic-level visibility that enables fast, accurate reconstruction of events—bridging NetOps and SecOps with a shared source of truth for root-cause identification, impact assessment, and post-breach investigation. This unified approach accelerates NetSecOps collaboration, reduces investigation time, and empowers teams to respond with precision when every second matters.
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