What method enables monitoring of network traffic passing in or out of a network?

Traffic mirroring is a technique used to create a replica of network traffic that passes through a specified point in the network. This method enables a comprehensive analysis of the data being transmitted and received, allowing security teams to monitor real-time traffic for anomalies, malicious activities, or compliance with network policies.

By utilizing traffic mirroring, administrators can send copies of the network packets to a monitoring or analysis tool without affecting the performance of the actual data flow. This allows for deeper insights and detailed logging of activities without interrupting the normal operation of the network. As a result, any trends, patterns, or potential risks can be identified effectively, thus enhancing the security posture of the organization.

In contrast, the other options do not serve as monitoring tools for network traffic. Domain Name System (DNS) relates to resolving domain names to IP addresses, neither facilitating traffic observation nor analysis. Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a desktop-sharing system that enables remote access to computers, which does not focus on monitoring network traffic. Lastly, a load balancer is designed to distribute network or application traffic across multiple servers to enhance responsiveness and availability; it does not provide direct monitoring of the network itself.