Portable Network TAPs

The term TAP is an abbreviation and stands for Test Access Port. A Network TAP, also called Ethernet TAP, establishes a passive access point to a network connection, with which the data signals transmitted via the cable can be read and evaluated for analysis purposes. Once installed, a TAP can be used to make all data traffic available for various monitoring applications transparently, quickly, easily and without affecting the active network line. A Network TAP operates on OSI Layer 1 and has no MAC address. Therefore it is invisible in the network and cannot be detected by any attacker. This is essential, especially in network forensics and security, as otherwise criminals could be aware of the presence of the TAP. The use of portable TAPs has another advantage: you decide where you want to tap the data. This flexibility is of great benefit, as you are able to strongly influence and improve the quality of your measurement results. Network TAPs are passive components and do not influence the original data traffic in any way. Due to the additional "Fail-Open" technology of the Ethernet Copper TAPs, the data line is switched through even in case of a power interruption. The Network TAP works like a cable bridge and protects your productive network from a failure. Thus you receive accurate data for error-free analysis directly from the line.