Summary
Top cybersecurity network monitoring tools include commercial and open-source solutions for real-time threat detection, deep packet inspection, and behavioral analytics.
Top cybersecurity network monitoring tools include Splunk, Darktrace, SolarWinds Security Event Manager, and Cisco Stealthwatch, known for their advanced features like SIEM, AI-powered threat detection, and real-time alerts.
Other leading options are Nagios, Zabbix, and PRTG Network Monitor.
OnAir Post: Network Monitoring Tools
About
Gemini AI Overview
Comprehensive security and SIEM platforms
Splunk: A premium SIEM solution that aggregates and analyzes vast amounts of machine data to provide actionable security intelligence.
SolarWinds Security Event Manager: Generates alerts on suspicious patterns and provides audit trails for compliance, with a focus on security event management.
Cisco Secure Firewall: Provides a combination of next-generation firewall, intrusion defense, and advanced threat protection.
Darktrace: Uses AI and machine learning for real-time threat detection by analyzing network traffic and identifying unusual behavior.
Network and performance monitoring
PRTG Network Monitor: Monitors network devices and traffic using customizable sensors and is a popular choice for its comprehensive features.
Nagios: An open-source and commercial tool that offers extensive network monitoring and alerting capabilities.
Zabbix: Another popular open-source solution known for its flexibility in monitoring various network components.
ManageEngine OpManager: A comprehensive network management solution with a focus on centralized dashboards, alerts, and network mapping.
Datadog: Collects and analyzes metrics across network and cloud infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on performance and visibility.
Traffic analysis and intrusion detection
Wireshark: An essential open-source tool for deep-packet inspection and network protocol analysis.
Snort: An open-source intrusion detection system (IDS) that monitors network traffic for malicious activity.
Zeek (formerly Bro): An open-source network security monitoring framework that provides deep visibility into network activity and suspicious behavior.
Source: Gemini AI Overview – 11/12/2025
Gemini AI Deep Dive Overview
Commercial Solutions
- Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR: A unified extended detection and response (XDR) platform that combines network, endpoint, and cloud data to detect sophisticated attacks using AI and behavioral analytics.
- Fortinet FortiAnalyzer/FortiGate: FortiGate appliances offer high-performance firewall and intrusion prevention (IPS) capabilities, while FortiAnalyzer aggregates and analyzes log data for a comprehensive view of network usage and security information.
- Darktrace: Utilizes self-learning AI to establish a “pattern of life” for every user and device, detecting subtle deviations that may indicate zero-day threats or insider threats in real-time.
- Splunk Enterprise Security: A leading Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution that excels at analyzing large volumes of log data and applying machine learning to identify security threats, with strong reporting and customization capabilities.
- Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch): Leverages machine learning and behavioral analytics to provide comprehensive network visibility and detect anomalies across the network fabric.
- ExtraHop Reveal(x): A network detection and response (NDR) platform that uses deep packet inspection and AI to expose threats, vulnerabilities, and performance issues across hybrid environments.
- ManageEngine OpManager: An affordable, comprehensive network monitoring tool that provides visibility and control over networks, servers, and applications, including configuration management and flow analysis add-ons.
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) / Security Event Manager (SEM): Offers robust network performance and traffic analysis, as well as log management and automated incident response for threat detection and compliance.
- Datadog Network Monitoring: A cloud-based platform that provides unified visibility across cloud and on-premises environments, correlating network performance data with application and infrastructure metrics.
Open-Source Tools
- Wireshark: A powerful, widely-used network protocol analyzer for deep packet inspection and forensic analysis, invaluable for troubleshooting and security investigations.
- Snort: A prominent open-source intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS) that performs real-time traffic monitoring and analysis based on a customizable rule language.
- Zeek (formerly Bro): An open-source network analysis framework that monitors all network activity and generates high-fidelity transaction logs for security operations and forensic investigations.
- Security Onion: A free, open-source Linux distribution that bundles a suite of monitoring and security tools (including Suricata, Zeek, and the Elastic Stack) for threat hunting, enterprise security monitoring, and log management.
- Nagios: An open-source monitoring system (Nagios Core) with a large plugin ecosystem, offering extensive monitoring and alerting for network devices, servers, and applications.
