Network Infrastructure, Network Management
Article | July 27, 2023
Discover network intrusion monitoring with top network monitoring books. Explore insights, best practices, and tools to secure network visibility and processes used in monitoring network performance.
Observing networks for performance and security anomalies is crucial for businesses that rely on their business network. Network monitoring solutions monitor performance metrics across an entire network to guarantee that your systems operate properly. From monitoring network performance to ensuring comprehensive visibility, the books listed below will offer a wealth of knowledge and expertise to empower professionals in the networking industry.
10 Network Monitoring Books to Effectively Monitor Performance
1 Zabbix Network Monitoring
Author: Rihards Olups
Zabbix Network Monitoring book is an indispensable resource for networking professionals seeking to enhance their network visibility and improve network performance monitoring. This comprehensive guide offers an approach to effectively monitor network devices and applications using Zabbix 3.0. One of the network monitoring books, Zabbix Network Monitoring covers essential topics such as data collection, native Zabbix agents, and SNMP devices. It also delves into monitoring Java application servers, VMware, notifications, permission management, system maintenance, and troubleshooting. It empowers readers to build a robust network monitoring solution to gather data from various systems. By exploring the intricacies of Zabbix, this book ensures that network monitoring becomes an efficient and effortless task, ultimately enhancing network visibility and performance for all stakeholders.
2 The Practice of Network Security Monitoring
Author: Richard Bejtlich
An essential book for networking professionals, The Practice of Network Security Monitoring: Understanding Incident Detection and Response, helps to enhance network visibility and strengthen network security. The book's author, Richard, guides readers through implementing network security monitoring (NSM) as a proactive defense strategy. The book emphasizes integrating NSM into security measures to effectively detect and respond to intrusions. It also provides practical insights on deploying, building and operating an NSM operation using open-source software and vendor-neutral tools. With a focus on proactive incident response, this book equips readers with the knowledge and techniques to establish a robust security net that detects, contains and controls attacks. By implementing the practices outlined in this book, organizations can better safeguard their networks and prevent the loss of sensitive data.
3 Internet and Network Architecture
Author: Sang Hinch
Internet and Network Architecture: Analyzing Performance with Network Monitoring Tools is a must-read for professionals in the networking industry seeking to enhance network visibility and optimize network performance monitoring. This comprehensive guide offers a thorough introduction to TCP/IP, FTP, IP addresses, ports, and web page retrieval, providing a solid foundation in internet and network architecture. The book explores the complex workings of routers, data transmission, network configuration, and architecture, enabling readers to build efficient and secure networks. Focusing on practicality, it emphasizes using network monitoring tools to analyze performance and troubleshoot issues effectively. By mastering the fundamentals presented in this book, readers will gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the World Wide Web, understand network protocols, and make informed decisions for network optimization.
4 Zabbix 4 Network Monitoring
Author: Patrik Uytterhoeven & Rihards Olups
Zabbix 4 Network Monitoring: Monitor the performance of your network devices and applications using the all-new Zabbix 4.0, 3rd Edition is a comprehensive and highly valuable resource for professionals in the networking industry. This book serves as an essential guide to effectively monitor the performance of network devices and applications using Zabbix 4.0. Written for both beginners and experienced users, the book offers a step-by-step approach to help readers quickly grasp the installation process and explore the new features of network monitoring. From understanding native Zabbix agents and SNMP devices to harnessing Zabbix's integrated functionality for monitoring Java application servers and VMware, readers will gain comprehensive knowledge. With insights into optimizing performance, automating configurations, and troubleshooting network issues, it will develop advanced skills to ensure a healthy and efficient network.
5 Applied Network Security Monitoring
Author: Chris Sanders & Jason Smith
An indispensable book for professionals in the networking industry Applied Network Security Monitoring: Collection, Detection, and Analysis offers a comprehensive guide to become a proficient NSM analyst. Focusing on NSM's collection, detection, and analysis stages, this book equips readers with essential concepts through real-world examples and practical scenarios. Recognizing that prevention is not foolproof, the book emphasizes the critical role of detection and response in minimizing the impact of network intrusions. With insights from experienced NSM professionals and access to sample data, readers gain valuable knowledge to analyze network security incidents effectively. From data collection methods to in-depth coverage of tools like Snort, Suricata, Bro-IDS, SiLK, and Argus, this monitoring book provides hands-on experience and practical examples using real PCAP files. By leveraging Security Onion for lab examples, readers can develop and enhance their analytic techniques.
6 Practical Network Security Monitoring: Using Free Software
Author: Elizabeth Graham
Practical Network Security Monitoring: Using Free Software offers guidance on utilizing free software to collect, monitor, and analyze network traffic, thereby detecting and identifying potential threats. With a focus on providing practical exercises, this book equips beginner to intermediate users with the necessary knowledge to detect and defend cyber threats. Step-by-step instructions enable readers to install, configure, and effectively use free tools, allowing hands-on experience in analyzing network traffic and identifying malicious activity. This book edition covers Security Onion, introducing significant changes to the platform. The updated content includes new intrusions, malware, PCAP examples, and an introduction to web-based PCAP analysis tools. A bonus chapter challenges readers to test their knowledge through self-assessment.
7 Efficient Body Sensor Networks for Patient Monitoring
Author: Jawaid Iqbal
Efficient Body Sensor Networks for Patient Monitoring is a book for professionals in the networking and healthcare industry, focusing on the challenges, Body Sensor Networks (BSNs) face in continuously monitoring patient vital signs. BSNs operate in constrained environments and encounter issues such as patient information privacy, secure data transmission over public networks, high overhead, and energy constraints. Being one of the prominent network monitoring books, it presents five efficient and secure attribute-based schemes designed explicitly for BSNs. These schemes address the mentioned challenges comprehensively, providing practical solutions to enhance network monitoring performance in patient monitoring scenarios. By proposing novel approaches, this book contributes to the advancement of efficient and secure patient monitoring within BSNs.
8 Mastering Python Networking
Author: Eric Chou
A comprehensive guide created for professionals in the networking industry seeking to leverage Python for network automation, monitoring, and management, Mastering Python Networking: Utilize Python packages and frameworks for network automation, monitoring, cloud, and management, focuses on the latest Python libraries and frameworks and equips readers with the necessary skills to tackle common & complex network challenges effectively. From interacting with network devices to implementing advanced features using Python 3, the book covers a wide range of topics, including Docker containers, network data analysis, cloud networking, and DevOps practices. With practical examples and insights into tools like GitLab & ELK, network engineers, developers, and SREs will gain valuable knowledge to enhance their network performance monitoring and visibility.
9 AWS Security Cookbook
Author: Heartin Kanikathottu
Focusing on securing Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, AWS Security Cookbook: Practical solutions for managing security policies, monitoring, auditing, and compliance with AWS is written. Being one of the network monitoring books that provide professionals with valuable insights related to network visibility and network performance management in the networking industry, this book offers practical solutions to address common security challenges, including permission policies, key management, network security, and cloud security best practices. Industry professionals can explore various AWS services and features that enhance security, including IAM, S3, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Config, GuardDuty, and Macie. In addition, the book also covers compliance requirements and demonstrates how to maintain security and compliance using AWS security services.
10 The Best of TaoSecurity Blog, Volume 2
Author: Richard Bejtlich
The Best of TaoSecurity Blog, Volume 2: Network Security Monitoring, Technical Notes, Research, and China and the Advanced Persistent Threat, guides professionals in the networking industry, particularly those interested in network security monitoring. Written by Richard Bejtlich, a renowned cybersecurity expert, he curates the best entries from his 17 years of writing on the TaoSecurity Blog. The book explores various intervention detection and response aspects, leveraging threat intelligence sources, network data, application and infrastructure data, and endpoint data. Additionally, it provides insights into Chinese hacking activities over the past two decades, offering a unique perspective from a defender on the front lines. With new analysis accompanying each post, readers can gain valuable knowledge on the evolution of the security industry, defensive methodologies, and strategies for enhancing national security.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recommended books discussed in this article provide valuable insights and guidance for networking experts in the B2B sector. These resources cover various aspects of monitoring network performance, enhancing network visibility, and addressing security concerns. By delving into these monitoring books, professionals can gain a deeper understanding of effective network performance monitoring techniques, ensuring optimal visibility across their infrastructure. With the ever-evolving networking landscape, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, it is crucial for maintaining a high-performing network. These books offer industry-relevant knowledge and empower networking experts to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to a robust and efficient network infrastructure.
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Wireless, 5G
Article | May 18, 2023
When you're immersed in ultra-fast 5G amazing services, 600 million people around the world are still blocked from accessing mobile networks. When you experience seamless online shopping and online education, 3.4 billion people worldwide have not experienced mobile Internet services. On the road where connections are not connected, no one will be left behind. We can feel the life changes by RuralStar deployment.
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Unified Communications, Network Security
Article | July 10, 2023
Transparency, explainability and trust are big and pressing topics in AI/ML today. Nobody wants to find themselves at the receiving end of a black AI box system that makes consequential decisions (e.g., about jobs, healthcare, citizenship, etc.), especially if those decision are unfair, biased, or just plainly not in our favor. And most organizations agree that consumer trust and confidence that AI is being used ethically and transparently are key to unlocking its true potential.
And while there are literally hundreds of documents describing and prescribing AI principles, frameworks and other good things, last year there was no practical tool that could help with implementing transparency. And this tool is AI registers…
The Cities of Helsinki and Amsterdam jointly announce the launch of their public AI registers. The two registers were developed in collaboration with Saidot.ai, a Finnish company which specializes in “bringing transparency to consumer services” and which, to the best of my knowledge, is the only vendor in this space.
The idea for the company grew from the personal frustration of its founder and CEO, Meeri Haataja, who was “seeing how important transparency of AI is for the future of each one of us, and not being able to find too many meaningful ways to act on it.”
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Wan Technologies
Article | June 7, 2022
We are surrounded by acronyms and buzzwords in technology. SD-WAN is one that is often used in the industry nowadays.
Organizations embrace digital transformation to stay up with market developments, consumer needs, and competitiveness. Traditional network designs weren't meant to manage digital transformation workloads and complexity. Business-critical services are commonly spread over numerous clouds, compromising network performance, particularly at branch sites.
Smart network operations teams opt for SD-WAN. SD-WAN reduces overhead and improves network performance. Routing and hardware expenses are saved through SD-WAN solutions while allowing multi-cloud access. SD-WAN also reduces overhead and supports new digital apps and services. This new technology streamlines WAN administration and operation and brings corporate advantages.
Business Challenges that SD-WAN Addresses
There has been a dramatic increase in the pressure on the network as a result of digitalization. Businesses must now rely on a stable and secure network, which conventional router-based network topologies are incapable of providing. An SD-WAN solution assists businesses in addressing use cases in order to expedite digital transformation efforts, lower cybersecurity risks, and increase revenue.
Eases connectivity with far-flung factories and offices.
Effectively deploys new sites and minimizes network equipment sprawl.
Enhances the speed of file transfer and backups to disaster recovery facilities.
Helps in moving applications to the cloud and protecting cloud app. data using Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
Safeguards IoT devices using a zero-trust network
Helps in complying with the cybersecurity framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Ways SD-WAN Can Help Businesses Boost their Bottom Line
Boosts Security
Digital transformation is a double-edged sword. It can increase consumer satisfaction and market reach, but can pose security threats. According to the U.S. State of Cybercrime study, 41% of respondents stated more cybersecurity occurrences in 2017. The good news is that many SD-WAN solutions provide built-in security. Most SD-WAN systems only offer basic firewall and VPN functionalities, requiring IT teams to add security to elastic and dynamic SD-WAN connections after the fact. SD-WAN solutions with NGFW, IPS, encryption, AV, and sandboxing can avoid data loss, downtime, regulatory violations, and legal liability.
Enables Cloud Usage
Cloud services are rapidly being used by businesses. The great news is that SD-WAN enables direct cloud access at the remote branch, removing backhauling traffic – which routes all cloud and branch office traffic through the data center – allowing workers to directly access cloud applications irrespective of location without burdening the core network with additional traffic to manage and secure. Furthermore, SD-WAN enhances cloud application performance by prioritizing vital business apps and allowing branches to interact directly with the Internet.
Reduces Costs
As businesses deploy a growing number of cloud-based services, the volume of data traveling across a WAN rises dramatically, driving up operational expenses. SD-WAN, thankfully, can minimize this cost by utilizing low-cost local Internet connectivity, offering direct cloud access, and lowering traffic via the backbone WAN. According to an IDC poll (prediction), over a quarter of survey respondents anticipate SD-WAN cost reductions of up to 39%, with the other two-thirds anticipating more modest savings of 5–19%.
Improves performance
Data transfer over a network isn't created equal. Fortunately, SD-WAN can be set up to prioritize business-critical traffic and real-time services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and then successfully guide it over the most efficient path. IT teams can help decrease packet loss and latency concerns by supporting important applications over dependable, high-performance connections, increasing employee productivity and morale. This is business-impacting performance.
Closing Note
Indeed, SD-WAN evolved and flourished in the data center over the first few years of development. However, the time has arrived to take it seriously as a tool for managing your wide area network. There are currently several vendors on the market, as well as several mature solutions to choose from. More significantly, the business cases for SD-WAN are expanding on a daily basis.
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