What are the best ways to analyze network data with NetFlow?

1 Choose a suitable NetFlow collector and analyzer

A NetFlow collector is a software or hardware device that receives and stores NetFlow data from network devices that support the protocol, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and servers. A NetFlow analyzer is a software or hardware device that processes, visualizes, and reports on NetFlow data, providing insights into network traffic patterns, trends, and behaviors. There are many NetFlow collectors and analyzers available in the market, each with different features, capabilities, and costs. You should choose a NetFlow collector and analyzer that meets your specific needs, such as scalability, compatibility, security, customization, and integration.

2 Filter and aggregate NetFlow data

NetFlow data can be overwhelming and noisy, especially in large and complex networks. To reduce the volume and complexity of NetFlow data, you can filter and aggregate it based on various criteria, such as IP addresses, ports, protocols, interfaces, applications, or time periods. Filtering and aggregating NetFlow data can help you focus on the most relevant and important information, such as the top talkers, listeners, protocols, or applications in your network. You can also use filtering and aggregating to isolate specific traffic flows or segments for further analysis.

3 Visualize NetFlow data with graphs and charts

One of the best ways to analyze NetFlow data is to visualize it with graphs and charts that show the distribution, variation, and correlation of network traffic attributes. Visualizing NetFlow data can help you quickly identify patterns, trends, and outliers in your network traffic, such as spikes, drops, or anomalies. You can also use graphs and charts to compare and contrast different traffic flows or segments, such as inbound vs outbound, LAN vs WAN, or business vs non-business. Some of the common types of graphs and charts for NetFlow data are pie charts, bar charts, line charts, scatter plots, and heat maps.

4 Generate and customize NetFlow reports

Another way to analyze NetFlow data is to generate and customize reports that summarize and highlight the key findings and insights from your NetFlow data. NetFlow reports can help you communicate and share your network traffic analysis with other stakeholders, such as senior management, network engineers, security analysts, or auditors. You can also use NetFlow reports to track and measure your network performance, efficiency, and security over time, such as bandwidth utilization, service level agreements, or incident response. Some of the common types of NetFlow reports are traffic overview, traffic breakdown, traffic matrix, traffic forecast, and traffic anomaly.

5 Apply advanced analytics and machine learning to NetFlow data

A more advanced way to analyze NetFlow data is to apply advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to NetFlow data, such as clustering, classification, regression, or anomaly detection. Advanced analytics and machine learning can help you discover deeper and more complex insights from your NetFlow data, such as network traffic patterns, profiles, or behaviors that are not obvious or visible from conventional analysis. You can also use advanced analytics and machine learning to automate and enhance your network traffic analysis, such as alerting, forecasting, or optimizing.

6 Integrate NetFlow data with other data sources

A final way to analyze NetFlow data is to integrate it with other data sources that can provide additional context, perspective, or value to your network traffic analysis, such as log data, SNMP data, packet data, or user data. Integrating NetFlow data with other data sources can help you correlate and validate your NetFlow data, as well as enrich and expand your network traffic analysis. You can also use integration to leverage the strengths and overcome the limitations of different data sources, such as combining the granularity of packet data with the scalability of NetFlow data.