200-201 Question 258
Select 3A cybersecurity analyst is tasked with monitoring network traffic for potential threats. The analyst is considering using a network tap instead of using standard traffic monitoring tools. Which of the following are characteristics of data obtained from a network tap compared to traffic monitoring tools?
- A
Provides full visibility into both inbound and outbound traffic
- B
May drop packets during periods of high traffic
- C
Operates independently of the network devices
- D
Can introduce latency into the network
- E
Requires additional hardware installation
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, E
Explanation
Network taps are passive devices that provide full, reliable visibility into network traffic by duplicating all data passing through a specific link. They operate independently of network devices and do not introduce latency, making them a preferred option for accurate traffic monitoring. However, they require dedicated hardware installation, which is an additional consideration.
- A. Correct.
Network taps provide full visibility into both inbound and outbound traffic as they are positioned to capture all traffic passing through a link.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect because network taps do not drop packets during high traffic; they are passive devices designed to capture all traffic without interference.
- C. Correct.
Network taps operate independently of the network devices since they passively copy data without needing to interact with network configurations.
- D. Incorrect.
Network taps do not introduce latency as they are passive devices, unlike some inline traffic monitoring tools that might add processing delays.
- E. Correct.
Installing a network tap typically requires additional hardware to be placed physically on the network link, unlike software-based monitoring tools.