Network Traffic Analysis, or NTA, is a common term in cyber security, but something not many know about. So what is it, why is it important, and why can organizations benefit from it? Let’s dive in. 

What is NTA? 

Network traffic analysis (NTA) is the process of intercepting, recording and analyzing network traffic communication patterns in order to detect and respond to security threats (Awake Security). Originally coined by Gartner, the term represents an emerging security product category.

Why is NTA important? 

Attackers are becoming better at refining their tactics to avoid being caught. They have a knack for leveraging legitimated credentials with trusted tools, which makes it difficult for organizations to identify and protect themselves from security risks. Network traffic analysis products were created to help combat attackers’ consistent innovation, and works as a single source of truth for identifying what is actually on the network. Networks are the eyes and ears of an organization’s technology, and provide objective information that other data sources can’t.

How is NTA different from other network security tools? 

While other network security tools like intrusion detection systems and firewalls are focused on monitoring traffic, NTA is focused on all communications. This ranges from TCP/IP packets, API calls to SaaS applications, etc. Network traffic analysis is a more operational type of technology, and highlights areas that might’ve been unseen to the security team otherwise. Advanced NTA tools are effective at all times, even when the network traffic is encrypted. The tools operate in a very intelligent way by analyzing past behavior and comparing other entities in the environment. 

What can NTA solve for my organization? 

The biggest benefit of NTA tools is how cohesive it’s core capabilities work together to signal malicious intent detection. Before the use of NTA products, intent detection was a time consuming process that couldn’t be replicated. It took a great deal of skill, and security professionals everywhere were struggling to find ways to automate these services in their tech stack. By automating this intent detection process, security professionals are able to save tons of time and effort in this department, and focus on other key areas. These tools serve as a way to analyze and streamline security efforts, and empower organizations to adapt the technology to align with unique needs of any particular network. 

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