Auvik Networks, a provider of network management software for IT managed services providers, has launched Auvik TrafficInsights, a new component of its flagship solution designed to reveal what applications are being used on a network, who is using them, and where the data is going.††
Network administrators have long used NetFlow and other flow variants to collect information about IP network traffic and diagnose network issues. With the rise of encrypted traffic, according to Auvik, NetFlow is no longer able to identify critical information about data being transmitted, making it difficult for technicians to resolve performance issues.†Auvik TrafficInsights uses machine learning to surface insights about encrypted network traffic to help MSPs identify and resolve network traffic issues quickly.
“MSPs tell us the number one question they get asked is, ‘Why is the network so slow?’, and this can also be the most difficult question to answer,” said Alex Hoff, chief product officer at Auvik, in a press statement. “Debugging the network without visibility into traffic flows can kill productivity and end up costing you more than you make on a client account. TrafficInsights helps identify what devices or IPs are contributing to the bottlenecks so you can quickly fix the root cause of an issue—and keep your clients happy.”
According to Auvik, TrafficInsights arms†MSPs to answer questions for their clients such as:
- Who is using applications banned at work, such as BitTorrent or video streaming software?
- Who is hogging bandwidth and slowing down the network?
- Why is the web server receiving connections from that country where the client has no business dealings?
- What did the hacked server connect to during the infection?
“One of our customers was experiencing network performance issues and TrafficInsights showed us exactly what was causing the issue,” said Patrick Garman, subject matter expert for network solutions at Vancouver, B.C.-based solution provider WBM Technologies Inc., in prepared remarks. “It turned out the firewall was being taxed by storage traffic. We moved this traffic off the device and instantly improved the client’s connectivity.”
When MSPs have the tools to root out the problems in a client’s network in a quick and detailed manner, Auvik says, they can solve connectivity problems and proactively avoid future issues.
“I was able to locate a device that was communicating with China for no reason. I was extremely impressed with how quickly I could find what I was looking for, and we resolved the issue by adding a geo-restriction rule to the firewall. Best NetFlow data interface I’ve used so far,” said†Adam Peterson, owner of Comstock Park, Mich.-based†cloud and managed service provider†Real IT Solutions Inc., in comments supplied by Auvik.
TrafficInsights is available for free until June 1 for all Auvik partners and trial users. MSPs who aren’t yet partners can request a free Auvik trial as well.
