In today’s dynamic network environments, traditional MELT telemetry (metrics, events, logs, and traces) falls short when uncovering “unknown unknowns”—unforeseen issues that can cripple network performance and endanger network security. Packets and metadata generated from the packets data offer a more granular, real-time view, providing the level of detail necessary to identify these undetected anomalies and veiled vulnerabilities.
The Shortcomings of MELT Telemetry
While MELT telemetry can alert you to “known unknowns”—anticipated issues you’ve prepared for—its reliance on aggregation and predefined triggers leaves it blind to unexpected network events or attacks. Metrics and logs may highlight a symptom, such as increased latency or packet loss, but they rarely offer the full picture of why it occurred.
The Actual Packets: A Complete View of Network Traffic
Packets solve these problems by providing a granular, real-time view of all network traffic. Unlike MELT telemetry, packet-based metadata doesn’t rely on predefined events or logs, making it ideal for discovering unknown issues. Specifically, using the actual packets enable:
Discovering the Unknown Unknowns
The true value of the packets lies in its ability to uncover the “unknown unknowns”—unanticipated issues that MELT telemetry can’t detect because no predefined trigger or log exists for them. While MELT data can track “known unknowns,” packets offer a complete, unfiltered view of network traffic, allowing teams to identify new and emerging issues before they cause widespread impact.
For example, a security breach caused by an unfamiliar vulnerability may bypass traditional logs or event triggers, but the packets capture the full sequence of actions, providing crucial context for investigation and mitigation.
Real-World Use Cases using the Packets
Conclusion
While MELT telemetry provides useful high-level insights, it lacks the granularity needed to fully understand the complex behaviors in modern networks. The packets and the generated metadata fill that gap by offering comprehensive, real-time visibility into every packet traversing the network. This detailed view is essential for discovering unknown unknowns, reducing Mean-Time-to-Resolution, and enhancing both network performance and security.
Do not ignore the actual packets from your observability and security strategy because they are crucial for staying ahead of unforeseen issues and ensuring network resilience in today’s high-speed, high-stakes environments. By relying on packet-level data, organizations can move beyond monitoring what they know to proactively uncovering and addressing what they don’t.