Why Network Security Monitoring Matters
Network Security Monitoring (NSM) is the backbone of modern defensive operations.
It’s how SOC Analysts detect intrusions early, trace attacker movements, and respond before damage spreads.
While you can read about NSM concepts anywhere, mastering it requires real packet captures, live traffic, and real-time investigation — not static slides.
According to the SANS Institute, NSM is “the art of knowing your network through continuous observation.”
That means practical skills — from analysing PCAPs to configuring tools like Zeek, Wireshark, and Suricata — are what truly set professionals apart.
Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals (Without Overwhelm)
Start by understanding how data moves through networks and what “normal” looks like before trying to spot anomalies.
On TryHackMe’s Network Fundamentals module, you’ll practise decoding packets, identifying protocols, and recognising traffic types — skills that underpin every NSM workflow.
💡 Tip: Don’t rush into tools. First learn what “healthy” traffic looks like; it makes anomaly detection far easier later.
Step 2: Move From Packets to Alerts
Once you’re comfortable reading packets, move on to alert-driven detection.
The Introduction to Defensive Security path walks you through hands-on analysis using IDS tools and live event data.
You’ll also explore Splunk, Security Onion, and ELK — key platforms real SOC teams use.
✅ Try this next:
- Network Services 2 – analyse vulnerable network services.
- Intro to Splunk – learn log correlation and query logic.
Step 3: Analyse Real-World Attacks
Theory only goes so far. NSM shines when you can spot and reconstruct an intrusion.
The Threat Intelligence Tools and Wireshark 101 rooms simulate realistic threat activity, helping you practise identifying command-and-control traffic, exfiltration attempts, and attacker behaviour over time.
💡 Tip: When you spot suspicious traffic, build a mini “story” — what happened, when, how. This mindset is what hiring managers look for in Blue Team candidates.
Step 4: Build Confidence With an NSM Project
Create a short case study portfolio piece:
- Capture traffic from a lab or simulated environment.
- Document how you analysed, filtered, and interpreted findings.
- Include screenshots of Wireshark or Splunk dashboards.
You can even practise Network Security Monitoring end-to-end in TryHackMe’s Blue Team Fundamentals room, which walks you through alert triage and network-based threat detection.
Step 5: Level Up With Defensive Certifications
If you want to prove your NSM proficiency, choose certifications that value practical detection and investigation:
- TryHackMe’s Security and Analysis Level 1 (SAL1) – aligns directly with defensive operations and NSM workflows.
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) – recognised for hands-on incident analysis and monitoring.
- GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA) – advanced but highly respected in enterprise Blue Teams.
Final Takeaway
Network Security Monitoring isn’t just about tools — it’s about seeing what’s happening in your network and understanding why.
TryHackMe’s guided labs make it possible to learn these critical skills interactively, safely, and affordably — all in your browser.
Nick O'Grady