Understanding Network TAPs

A network tap is a monitoring device that mirrors the traffic that is passing between network nodes. A tap (test access point) is a hardware device inserted at a specific point in the network to monitor specific data. As part of the Gigamon Visibility Platform, network TAPs provide the visibility required to secure, monitor and manage your enterprise network infrastructure continuously and efficiently.

How Taps Work

A TAP is designed to monitor one network connection and generally comes with at least three ports: an A port, a B port and a monitor port. TAPs allow the network traffic to flow through the A and B ports of the device uninterrupted, while simultaneously copying the same data to the monitor port. The monitor port can be used to feed VoIP recording devices, network intrusion detection/prevention systems, network analytics, protocol analyzers, packet sniffers and traffic aggregation systems.