You’re struggling to identify the right network analysis tools for your team. What are your options?

1 Packet Capture Tools

Packet capture tools are software or hardware devices that can capture and record network traffic data, such as IP addresses, protocols, ports, and payloads. They are useful for analyzing network problems, such as congestion, errors, latency, and security breaches. Some examples of packet capture tools are Wireshark, tcpdump, and Nmap. Packet capture tools can provide detailed and granular information about network activity, but they can also consume a lot of resources, generate large amounts of data, and require advanced skills to interpret and filter.

2 Network Monitoring Tools

Network monitoring tools are software or hardware devices that can measure and display network performance metrics, such as bandwidth, availability, latency, throughput, and errors. They are useful for tracking network health, performance, and trends over time. Some examples of network monitoring tools are Nagios, Zabbix, and SolarWinds. Network monitoring tools can provide comprehensive and real-time visibility into network status, but they can also be expensive, complex, and vulnerable to false positives or negatives.

3 Network Testing Tools

Network testing tools are software or hardware devices that can simulate network conditions, such as load, traffic, and faults. They are useful for testing network functionality, reliability, and resilience before deployment or during maintenance. Some examples of network testing tools are iperf, hping, and NetSim. Network testing tools can provide accurate and reliable results about network performance, but they can also be time-consuming, disruptive, and limited by the test environment.

4 Network Mapping Tools

Network mapping tools are software or hardware devices that can discover and visualize network topology, devices, and connections. They are useful for understanding network structure, configuration, and dependencies. Some examples of network mapping tools are Nmap, Cacti, and Spiceworks. Network mapping tools can provide clear and intuitive representations of network layout, but they can also be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate.

5 Network Security Tools

Network security tools are software or hardware devices that can protect network data, devices, and users from unauthorized access, attacks, or threats. They are useful for enhancing network security, compliance, and auditability. Some examples of network security tools are firewalls, antivirus, and VPNs. Network security tools can provide strong and effective defense against network risks, but they can also be costly, intrusive, or incompatible.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?