description DeepSight Monitor Overview
DeepSight Monitor specializes in deep packet inspection and protocol decoding. It provides unparalleled visibility into the *content* of network traffic, going beyond simple metadata logging. It is particularly effective at identifying encrypted or obfuscated communications by analyzing traffic patterns and handshake anomalies, making it a favorite among network architects and penetration testers.
help DeepSight Monitor FAQ
Can DeepSight Monitor actually see inside encrypted traffic?
Not literally — modern TLS traffic cannot be decrypted without the keys, so what deep packet inspection tools really do is analyze metadata like SNI fields, certificate details, and TLS fingerprints to flag encrypted or obfuscated flows. DeepSight's protocol decoding is strongest at classifying and alerting on that traffic rather than reading its contents.
How is DeepSight different from just using Wireshark?
Wireshark is a manual, per-capture analysis tool for an engineer at a desk, while DeepSight Monitor is built for continuous monitoring with ongoing protocol decoding and alerting. If you need to investigate a single incident, Wireshark is free; for persistent visibility across the network, a monitoring product is the point.
How does DeepSight get its traffic — do I need a special deployment?
DPI products like this typically sit on a network tap or a switch SPAN/mirror port so they can see packets passing through the segment. Plan where you place it, since it only sees traffic on the paths it monitors.
Does this replace NetFlow-based tools like SolarWinds?
They are complementary rather than replacements. NetFlow tools such as SolarWinds' network traffic analysis give you volume and endpoint statistics, while a DPI product adds payload-level protocol visibility — many teams run both.
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