Which tool can be used to monitor and analyze network traffic for potential security issues?

A traffic analyzer is a tool specifically designed to capture, monitor, and interpret network traffic to identify patterns, performance issues, and potential security threats. It can provide insights into various aspects of network behavior, including protocol usage, bandwidth consumption, and unusual traffic patterns which may indicate security issues such as unauthorized access attempts or malware communications.

Effective traffic analysis involves inspecting packet data and identifying anything that deviates from normal operation, allowing security teams to respond proactively to threats. This capability is essential for maintaining an organization's security posture, as it helps detect anomalies and vulnerabilities within the network before they can be exploited.

While firewalls enforce security policies by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic and can protect against certain types of threats, they do not provide comprehensive analysis of traffic patterns. Port scanners are used to discover open ports on network devices, which can be valuable for assessing network security but do not actively monitor traffic. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) focuses on detecting and alerting on suspicious activities based on known patterns or anomalies within network traffic but may not analyze traffic in the same detailed manner as a traffic analyzer. Thus, a traffic analyzer is the most suitable tool for the specific task of monitoring and analyzing network traffic for potential security issues.