Meaning
Passive traffic observation methods involve splitting a portion of the light from a fiber optic cable to allow for the inspection of data without interrupting the original signal flow. Full access to the data stream is provided to security and performance analysis tools in real time. Because optical tap monitoring does not require an IP address or a network interface on the production line, it is invisible to attackers and does not introduce latency.
Traffic Visibility
Captured data remains an exact replica of the traffic on the primary link, ensuring that analysis is based on actual network behavior. Deployment of optical tap monitoring provides a non-intrusive way to audit network performance and detect anomalies. This visibility is achieved without the packet loss that can occur when using port mirroring on a busy switch.
Signal Integrity
Splitting the light reduces the total power of the signal reaching the original destination. Verification that the remaining light levels stay within the receiver’s sensitivity threshold is a required part of the installation process for optical tap monitoring hardware. High-quality prisms and fused couplers are used to ensure that the split ratio is consistent and that no noise is introduced into the transmission.
Passive Observation
Monitoring remains operational even if the capture device fails, as the physical connection between the sender and receiver is never broken. Reliability of the primary production link is never compromised by the monitoring equipment.
