Definition
Flow analysis is a cybersecurity technique used to examine network traffic patterns and identify potential security threats or anomalies. It involves collecting and analyzing metadata about network connections, such as source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and connection duration, to understand the flow of data across a network. By visualizing and scrutinizing these traffic flows, security professionals can detect unusual or malicious activity that might otherwise go unnoticed. For instance, a sudden surge in traffic to an unknown external IP address could indicate a data exfiltration attempt or a command and control communication. This differs from packet inspection, which examines the content of individual data packets, as flow analysis focuses on the metadata and overall communication patterns. Understanding flow analysis is crucial for domains like network security and incident response, appearing in certifications such as CompTIA CySA+ and AWS Certified Security Specialty.