NetFlow
NetFlow is a network protocol developed by Cisco for collecting and monitoring IP traffic data, enabling network administrators to analyze traffic patterns, bandwidth usage, and security threats. It works by exporting flow records from network devices like routers and switches to a collector for aggregation and analysis. This provides visibility into network performance, helps in capacity planning, and supports security monitoring by detecting anomalies.
Developers and network engineers should learn NetFlow when working on network management, security analysis, or performance optimization in enterprise or cloud environments. It is essential for troubleshooting network issues, identifying bandwidth hogs, and detecting malicious activities like DDoS attacks or data exfiltration. Use cases include monitoring application traffic, ensuring compliance with service-level agreements (SLAs), and integrating with SIEM tools for enhanced security.