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. […]
A generation ago, adding more gauges, dials, and displays to car dashboards was all the rage, with data-hungry drivers anxiously monitoring vehicle performance and efficiency from the comfort of the driver’s seat. Today, we have come full circle, with unified displays presenting more information while distilling it in a way that lets us keep our […]
Network visibility is enhanced through the time-stamped logs, performance metrics, and end-to-end traces collectively known as telemetry data. Each unique data source provides valuable clues that help IT teams and network engineers resolve issues and maintain performance standards, both locally and in the cloud. When these discreet lanes of information converge with comprehensive and inciteful […]
In aviation, “visibility” determines how far pilots can see important landmarks—mountains, runways, or other aircraft—to navigate safely, even without advanced instruments. Similarly, network visibility empowers IT teams to clearly understand performance baselines, swiftly pinpoint issues, and mitigate risks before they escalate. However, the reliable, time-tested resources and metrics traditionally used to monitor traffic, performance, and […]
Like explorers in a dry spell, many organizations recognize that two (or more) clouds can be better than one. Network architecture incorporating multiple public cloud vendors can increase capacity and efficiency while providing the freedom to hand-pick capabilities based on business needs. These benefits have led to a boom in multi-cloud deployments, with 79% of […]
We now know that observability goes well beyond traditional network monitoring practices to take real-time visibility to the next level. It is worth taking a closer look at the ingredients needed to convert disparate data sources into actionable insights. With the quest for observability sometimes curtailed by network complexity, a holistic approach is essential. ho·lis·tic: […]
Observability is all about leveraging diverse data sources, including flow, packet data, and metrics, to better understand what is happening inside the network, and what is likely to happen in the future. Therefore, it would not be surprising if more monitoring tools equated to more data and enhanced network observability, but that is not always […]
Observability is defined in mathematical terms as the ability to measure the internal state of a system based on only external information. On the other hand, monitoring is defined as a passive data collection process used to measure performance against predefined standards. In other words, network observability practices tend to be proactive, while monitoring tends […]
Reinforcing the Pillars of Observability The Greek Parthenon is known for the seventeen distinctive marble pillars enveloping the structure. These sturdy columns have remained intact despite over two thousand years of earthquakes, war, looting, and fire. With a slightly less auspicious origin story, the three pillars of observability (logs, metrics, and traces) continue to serve […]
The decades-old practice of vulnerability management utilizes automated scanning methods to systematically identify and mitigate weaknesses created by unpatched operating systems and applications. In today’s highly dynamic hybrid cloud environments, the number of vulnerabilities detected continues to increase constantly, while the time it takes threat actors to recognize and exploit them continues to drop. The […]
