Full, raw packet analysis, more commonly referred to as deep packet inspection (DPI for short), is a powerful cybersecurity monitoring method of examining granular information and data from traffic sources that pass through specific areas of networks.
What is a Packet?
Packets are the envelope in which data and information about the message or request are sent through the network. Tools that facilitate the deep inspection of this data, rather than header focused analysis, allow the ability to identify potentially malicious information and threats, such as malware or other dangerous payloads, that could be sent in the packet.
How Does Deep Packet Inspection Work?
Unlike traditional methods of traffic monitoring, DPI analyzes each byte of information in real time, which offers unparalleled visibility into network activity.
Data Packet Inspection
DPI goes beyond basic packet filtering (which only examines headers) by analyzing the payload, or the actual content of each packet, in real time. This allows for granular visibility into the data being transmitted.
Pattern Recognition
Using predefined rules and advanced algorithms, DPI can be used to identify patterns, anomalies, and signatures associated with malicious activities, such as malware, phishing attempts, or zero-day exploits.
Protocol Analysis
DPI methods and tools can capture and log raw packet data, which can later be used for forensic analysis to reconstruct attacks, assess damage, and trace attackers. This methodology provides the ability to examine whether data complies with standard communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, FTP, or VoIP). Deviations from these protocols often signal potential threats.
Real-Time Decision-Making
Once parameters are set, DPI can detect unusual behaviors that could alert to suspicious or unauthorized activity, it can immediately alert on the threat while filtering.
Data Logging and Forensics
DPI methods and tools can capture and log raw packet data, which can later be used for forensic analysis to reconstruct attacks, assess damage, and trace attackers.
For all networks, especially mission-critical operations and public safety organizations, DPI can be a vital tool in safeguarding sensitive operations and communications by deciphering the information in the packets, including identifying patterns that might indicate potential threats. Using deep packet inspection to identify patterns and flag potential threats, analysts can initiate a faster, preemptive response to possible threats, reducing impacts or thwarting them all together.
Full, raw packet analysis empowers cybersecurity teams to proactively identify and address advanced threats
This granular level of examination offers several critical benefits for cybersecurity monitoring.
Benefits of Full, Raw Packet Analysis in Cybersecurity Monitoring
Enhanced Threat Detection with Deep Packet Inspection
Public safety networks handle critical and sensitive data, making them prime targets for cyber threats.
Zero-Day Threat Detection
The ability to detect if your network could be impacted by previously unknown vulnerabilities that are being exploited by attackers and remedy them before it’s too late.
Protocol Anomaly Identification
Identify deviations from standard protocols, often signaling malicious activity.
Malware Detection
Uncover hidden malware signatures and command-and-control (C2) communications.
Improved Incident Response
When a breach or anomaly occurs, DPI enhances incident response efforts by providing detailed insights that helps public safety teams with:
Forensic Investigations
Raw packet captures allow security teams to reconstruct cyberattacks and identify root causes.
Attack Attribution
Trace cyberattacks back to their origin and identify threat actors.
Damage Assessment
Quickly determine the extent of a breach and the data compromised.
Operational Continuity and Reliability
In public safety, downtime or network disruptions can have life-threatening consequences.
Deep Packet Inspection supports:
Application Prioritization
Ensuring essential communication tools, like emergency dispatch systems, receive adequate bandwidth.
Congestion Management
Detecting and alleviating bottlenecks to maintain smooth operations.
Performance Optimization
Identifying and addressing inefficient traffic patterns to prevent slowdowns.
Rapid Threat Mitigation in Real-Time Scenarios
In critical scenarios, such as a cyberattack on a 911 center or a local government network, DPI enables rapid detection and response. It aids in identifying where to isolate devices within the network to prevent further infection from the malicious traffic during an attack, ensuring emergency communication remains uninterrupted.
Real-World Applications of Deep Packet Analysis in Public Safety
A 911 center experiencing abnormal traffic patterns would benefit from cybersecurity monitoring that utilizes full, raw packet inspection methods, like DPI, to identify a malware attack attempting to compromise its communication systems. Parameters set up through DPI send an alert to the SOC analyst detecting a potentially malicious payload. This allows for swift and decisive action to isolate and mitigate the issue by providing detailed information for forensic analysis. This action can prevent service interruptions and ensure the safety of the community.
Key Considerations for Utilizing Deep Packet Inspection Methods
- Proactive threat detection and mitigation
- Real-time response to network anomalies
- Regulatory compliance and data security
Why Public Safety Organizations Need Full, Raw Packet Analysis Methods
Public safety organizations face unique cybersecurity challenges, from protecting sensitive communications to ensuring uninterrupted service during emergencies. DPI offers a robust solution to these challenges, delivering advanced threat detection and actionable insights.
How SecuLore Uses Deep Packet Inspection
Like SecuLore, some cybersecurity companies in the critical infrastructure and public safety spaces offer passive monitoring that examines real-world data on your network. We feel this method is superior to active monitoring because it examines real traffic, not simulated traffic, for better anomaly detection. It’s more ideal for critical networks as simulated traffic can put networks at risk. For public safety and mission critical networks that SecuLore protects, it presents too great of a risk.
Another key decision when developing our patented cybersecurity solution, was to perform deep packet inspection (DPI), even though most of our competitors who examine real data only examine the headers.
Deep packet inspection and analysis offer several advantages over merely examining packet headers when monitoring a network:
| Packet Headers | DPI | |
|---|---|---|
Comprehensive Threat Detection |
Can only provide basic information about the packet, such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and protocol type. | Examines the actual payload of the packet, enabling the detection of sophisticated threats like malware, spyware, ransomware, and zero-day exploits that hide within the data portion of the packet. |
Identifying Anomalies And Intrusions |
Limited to detecting anomalies in traffic patterns and protocol misuse. | Can detect more complex and subtle forms of malicious activity, including application-layer attacks, data exfiltration, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). |
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) |
Cannot detect sensitive information within the packet data. | Can scan for specific data patterns, such as social security numbers, credit card information, or proprietary business data, helping prevent unauthorized data transfers. |
Granular Visibility And Forensic Analysis |
Offer limited insights, primarily useful for basic traffic statistics and network troubleshooting. | Provides detailed insights into network traffic, aiding in forensic investigations, understanding attack vectors, and reconstructing incidents for better response and remediation. |
Mitigating Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) |
Often insufficient for detecting and stopping APTs, which use sophisticated methods to hide within normal traffic. | Can uncover these hidden threats by analyzing the content and context of data flows, detecting anomalies that header inspection alone would miss. |
Behavioral Analysis and Anomaly Detection |
Limited to analyzing traffic volumes and patterns. | Allows for a deeper understanding of user and application behavior, detecting anomalies that indicate potential security incidents or policy violations. |
Enhanced Intrusion Detection and Prevention |
Useful for detecting known attack signatures at a superficial level. | Enables the identification of complex attack signatures and patterns, improving the effectiveness of intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS). |
SecuLore integrates full, raw packet analysis (DPI) into its managed cybersecurity monitoring solution, combining it with an in-house SOC team and proprietary tools to safeguard critical networks effectively.
Leveraging DPI Enables
Risk Mitigation
Regular deep packet inspection of real-world data to identify and prioritize network vulnerabilities with powerful yet safe methods, while notifying clients of any changes to their network to ensure continuity of operations.
Advanced, Proactive Threat Detection
- By analyzing raw packet data, SecuLore detects advanced threats before they cause damage.
- Continuous network monitoring, watching for when an attack may strike
- Customized alerts detect anomalous activity
- Machine learning and AI meaning fewer false positive alerts
Rapid Response
Each account gets a dedicated SecuLore SOC team member, and a response team when an attack hits empowered with tools and expertise to provide remediation guidance using advanced threat detection to initiate early response.
Visibility into how an attack is moving to inform mitigation, containment and remediation strategies.
Post-Threat Analysis
Using forensic packet analysis, SecuLore’s SOC team provides detailed analysis of how the attack unfolded in order to provide better prevention insights for the future.
Protect Your Public Safety Network with DPI Methodology
Deep Packet Inspection is a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity for public safety. By leveraging DPI, public safety organizations can secure their networks against evolving cyber threats and maintain the trust of the communities they serve.
Contact SecuLore today to learn how cybersecurity monitoring solutions that leverage DPI methodology strengthens your cybersecurity defenses.
See how SecuLore’s methodology and SOC team leverages DPI to detect and respond to threats facing your network.
