All posts tagged: networking infrastructure

Will Your Network Traffic Analysis Spot Today’s Threats?

Will Your Network Traffic Analysis Spot Today’s Threats?

Published by Webster

Network traffic analysis (NTA) is the practice of monitoring and interpreting the data flowing across your network to ensure performance, reliability, and security. Companies rely on a mix of tools — ranging from packet sniffers and flow analysis software to advanced NDR systems — to gain visibility into their network’s behavior. This guide explores the types of NTA solutions available, the key features that provide visibility and control over your network, and where related technologies like NDR tools fit into a modern, secure network strategy. But first, I want to start with a few red flags that tell you network traffic is hiding performance bottlenecks, sophisticated cyber threats, or both. Relying on yesterday’s tools can mean missing critical warning signs. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Seven signs you should revamp network traffic analysis Ideally, network traffic analysis (NTA) gives administrators a clear, real-time view of how data moves …

5 Signs You Need a Virtual Firewall to Secure Your Cloud

5 Signs You Need a Virtual Firewall to Secure Your Cloud

Published by Webster

As businesses increasingly shift to cloud-based and virtualized environments, traditional network security approaches — particularly firewalls — are falling short. Virtual firewalls, purpose-built for environments like public and private clouds or Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), have emerged as a critical solution. Their ability to scale dynamically and integrate deeply with virtual infrastructure enables security tailored to the demands of modern, distributed networks. Unlike hardware firewalls, virtual firewalls excel in protecting east-west traffic within virtual networks, safeguarding sensitive data, and enforcing precise policies in multi-tenant environments. They offer an agile, cost-effective approach to cybersecurity, making them indispensable for securing complex, cloud-native architectures while adapting to the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Virtual firewall vs physical appliance Physical firewalls are hardware-based devices positioned at the network’s edge. A virtual firewall is software-based and operates in virtualized environments, such as cloud infrastructures, VPN or SD-WAN. Unlike traditional …

When to Use a Mesh VPN and Four Signs You Shouldn’t

When to Use a Mesh VPN and Four Signs You Shouldn’t

Published by Webster

A mesh Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure, flexible way for remote teams to communicate over the internet. Unlike traditional client-server VPNs that route traffic through a central server, a mesh VPN connects each device directly to others, allowing for faster, more efficient data transmission. This decentralized approach ensures that every team member can securely access the network without relying on a single point of failure. Mesh VPNs can provide superior flexibility and security in certain scenarios, but they’re not always the best solution for every network. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Mesh VPN vs traditional VPN Understanding the distinctions between these two networks will be easier if you are familiar with how a VPN works and basic network terminology. Let’s go through both in detail. A traditional VPN (aka: client-server VPN or centralized VPN) runs on a main server that acts as a central gateway for …

When to Use Cloud Network Security (And When to Avoid It)

When to Use Cloud Network Security (And When to Avoid It)

Published by Webster

From data storage to business applications and beyond, companies of all sizes rely on the cloud for day-to-day operations and critical business processes. Protecting cloud-based infrastructures with robust security standards is crucial for modern organizations. Cloud network security is a popular approach. But is it right for your business? Read on to find out. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more What is cloud network security? Cloud network security is a broad term that covers all security measures a company uses to protect its private cloud network, public cloud network, or hybrid cloud network. It includes everything from the technology used to internal policies, processes, and controls. It helps businesses defend against data breaches, cyber attacks, unauthorized access, service interruptions, and other threats to their infrastructure. Network security (regardless of how it’s implemented) is just one of the many security layers that businesses use to protect themselves from vulnerabilities. But …

How Many Tunnels Do You Need?

How Many Tunnels Do You Need?

Published by Webster

A virtual private network (VPN) is a marvelous tool for protecting people and their data while browsing the internet, especially when working from unsecured or weakly protected networks like those at public libraries and coffee shops. From a business perspective, VPNs keep business data secure when employees work with sensitive material like trade secrets and proprietary information. VPN tunnels are also instrumental, as they provide users with an encrypted connection between their device and the internet. However, given the enriched data flow and volumetric information brought on by VPNs, you and/or your IT team should still monitor them regularly. The technical feedback you can gather by doing so will help you finetune and configure your VPN connections for optimal performance. As an alternative to VPNs, SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) offers businesses many more use cases. For instance, organizations that lean heavily on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services can use it to simplify enterprise-scale network management. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any …

Network Definition Made Simple: Here’s the Basics

Network Definition Made Simple: Here’s the Basics

Published by Webster

The simple network definition: a system that links other subsystems together and allows them to share information and resources. Computer networks are the technology interconnecting software, allowing you to do things like print a document from your laptop or send your business partner a signed contract over email. Imagine networks as a fabric of interconnected paths where data travels from one device to another. These paths also have rules to exchange data, known as communication protocols. In reality, the answer isn’t as straightforward as that. Depending on the purpose, various types of networks, topologies, and components exist. We’ll provide a basic guide to help you grasp the foundations of networks — what each network is, its basic functionality, and why we use networks. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Why we use networks every day Networks are designed to connect systems so they can exchange information. Here are some of …

EXACT Steps to Find Your Network Security Key On ALL Devices

EXACT Steps to Find Your Network Security Key On ALL Devices

Published by Webster

Confused about network security keys? You’re not alone. This guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to find your network key for the four most popular digital devices. Here’s a quick summary: iOS: Open the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi, select your connected network, and find the Password field. Android: Open the Settings app, tap on Network & Internet, go to Internet, tap on your connected network, choose Share, and view the passwords that show up. Mac: Use the Keychain Access app, find your current network, double-click on it, check the Show password box, and authenticate. Windows PC: Go to Settings, then to Network & Internet, then to Wi-Fi. Access the properties of your wireless network connection by clicking on the second row starting from the top, and find the network security key by scrolling down on the network’s window. Keep reading if you’d like more detailed instructions on where to go, along with tips for keeping your network secure. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) …

How to Fix Network Jitter (for Good) in Under 10 Minutes

How to Fix Network Jitter (for Good) in Under 10 Minutes

Published by Webster

If you’re experiencing choppy phone or video calls, pixelated conferencing, or disjointed VoIP audio connections, your network jitter may very well be above acceptable levels. Jitter refers to the variation in the arrival times of data packets across a network. There is always going to be a little variation, but if the jitter rate is too high, you will experience disruptions like choppy audio, lagging video, or dropped calls. Network jitter is measured in milliseconds (ms). Here’s a fairly standard breakdown of jitter rate: Good jitter: Less than 30 ms – Typically causes no noticeable disruptions in real-time communication. Moderate jitter: Between 30-50 ms – May result in slight delays or distortion but is generally manageable. High jitter: Above 50 ms – Can cause severe issues like robotic voices, video freezes, and frequent disconnections. High jitter is going to negatively impact any real-time communication over the network. Voice calls will be terrible quality and video conferencing will be even worse. The good news is that with the right troubleshooting approach, many network jitter issues can …

6 Types of Network Address Translation: Which One to Use?

6 Types of Network Address Translation: Which One to Use?

Published by Webster

Network Address Translation (NAT) is one of the key technological concepts behind the performance of communication networks and the internet at large. NAT is a mechanism for converting private (local) IP addresses into public (global) IP addresses and vice versa. There are six main NAT types: static, dynamic, port address translation, overlapping, and masquerade. Understanding the functionality of each NAT type — as well as its purpose — is vital in helping you choose the right one to reap the most benefits. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Network Address Translation, IPv4, and IPv6 It’s helpful to understand a little bit about how IP addressing works in order to understand the different types of NAT and the problems they solve. NAT enables efficient use of limited IPv4 addresses — there are only 4,294,967,296 possible 32-bit IPv4 addresses, which is not enough for every device worldwide — NAT allows organizations …

What Does a Firewall Do To Protect My Home Network

What Does a Firewall Do To Protect My Home Network

Published by Webster

A firewall is a security protocol that protects your internal network from the threats of the internet. It keeps an eye on the data that comes in and out of your home network. Without a firewall, your trusted private network could be at risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and malware from the public. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more The technical side of what a firewall does To get to grips with how a firewall works, you need to understand how data travels between internet networks. Basically, data moves across the internet in the form of information-filled packets. A firewall inspects these data packets to analyze their: Content: The information each data packet contains, such as an image, text, or video. Protocol: The language of the data packet, for example, HTTP or TCP. Port: The medium that the data is traveling through, such as email, web, or a social …