The November 24, 2014 hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment was one of the more prominent security breaches since Target’s attack, which cost the retail chain $162 million from 2013-2014. That figure is expected to continue to rise as lawsuits are settled on the corporate level. But, these prominent lapses in network security are certainly not the outliers.
According to USA Today, 43% of companies suffered a data breach in 2013. Despite new security infrastructure and technological advancements, most organizations continue to depend on less-than-sufficient technology.
Meaning what? The SPAN port.
Data capture is essential to keeping your network secure and limiting the cost of a breach. SPAN ports have long been incapable of ensuring complete network visibility. They hinder your ability to catch security breaches and minimize the damage done to your company. The risk of oversubscription is too great, and dropped packets are a very real concern. You simply cannot trust a SPAN port to keep you apprised of issues on your network.
In order to build the analytical picture you need for comprehensively assessing vulnerability, managing compliance, and analyzing performance, you must design a fortified network-monitoring architecture.
The network TAP is fundamental to capturing 100% of your network data and gaining complete visibility. A TAP not only reduces the cost of a security breach, but also mitigates the risk of one occurring.
In addition network TAPs do not have IP or Mac addresses, and thus, cannot be hacked. It provides greater network security because it detects threats from both inside and outside of your network. SPAN ports, on the other hand, are easily manipulated. If your switch is hacked, your attackers are capable of reprogramming your SPAN port to hide the fact that you’re network's been breached.
Many organizations rely on SPAN ports because of their minimal cost – zero. However, the indirect cost of a security breach is substantial.
There are several key facts you need to know about data breaches and the costs they incur. but I'll leave you with just one eye-opening fact:
Learn more about network TAPs and how to protect your network and data. Download our free TAP vs. SPAN whitepaper today.