What is the primary function of a Network Tap in network management?

The primary function of a Network Tap is to analyze and manage network traffic. A Network Tap (Test Access Point) allows for the monitoring of network traffic in real-time by creating a copy of the data packets that pass through it without interrupting the actual traffic flow. This is especially useful for security monitoring, network diagnostics, and performance analysis, as it permits the examination of all packets sent and received across a network without affecting the performance of the devices involved.

Network Taps are typically deployed between network devices, enabling network engineers and security professionals to gain insights into patterns, identify potential issues, and analyze traffic for anomalies or security threats. This capability distinguishes Network Taps from other networking devices, as their main purpose focuses solely on traffic analysis rather than access management, device connectivity, or data encryption.