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Advanced Network Monitoring with ERSPAN Support in IBM QRadar What Is ERSPAN?
ERSPAN is a method for mirroring network traffic from a source device and encapsulating it using GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) for transport over IP networks. Unlike traditional SPAN ports that require local connectivity, ERSPAN allows traffic to be mirrored remotely and centrally analyzed.
ERSPAN (Encapsulated Remote Switched Port Analyzer) captures SPAN traffic, wraps it in a packet (like placing it in an envelope), and sends it over the internet or an IP network to a tool like IBM QRadar. With the latest update (QRadar 7.5.0 UP13), IBM QRadar can now natively understand and analyze ERSPAN traffic.
ERSPAN enables the copying of network traffic and sends it to a centralized location for analysis using standard network connections. This capability enhances visibility into remote or cloud-based environments, helping to keep your systems secure regardless of where they are running.
Advantages of ERSPAN analysis using IBM QRadar
1. See Traffic from Remote and Cloud Locations
ERSPAN lets you watch network activity from places like remote offices, data centers, or the cloud—so you can keep an eye on everything, no matter where it is.
2. Check All Traffic in One Place
You can send network traffic from different locations to one central system for detailed threat analysis. This means you do not need to install monitoring tools everywhere.
3. Easier Setup Over the Network ERSPAN makes it easier to copy and send network data using your existing network setup—no special equipment needed.
Core Capabilities of ERSPAN Integration with IBM QRadar
Capability
Description
Distributed Monitoring
Enables IDS and security tools to monitor traffic from multiple network segments.
Data Loss Prevention
Mirrors traffic to DLP tools to detect and block sensitive data exfiltration.
Threat & Anomaly Detection
Supports behavior-based and signature-based detection for malicious activity.
Application Performance
Analyzes flow for latency, bottlenecks, or service degradation.
Troubleshooting
Offers rich diagnostic data for packet loss, delays, and connectivity issues.
Encrypted Traffic Visibility
ERSPAN can be paired with SSL decryption tools to analyze previously hidden threats.
How It Works in IBM QRadar
Example Scenario
Imagine a global enterprise with multiple data centers and cloud regions. Using ERSPAN, traffic from a server in Data Center A can be mirrored and sent over a network to a IBM QRadar instance in Data Center B, without complex VLAN extensions or dedicated links. This enables full traffic visibility and forensic analysis—remotely and in real-time.
To enable ERSPAN support in IBM QRadar:
Enable ERSPAN in System Settings
Go to Admin → System Settings → QFlow Settings Set ERSPAN Enable to Yes (By default, this is set to No)
Perform Full deploy changes
Once ERSPAN is enabled and a Full deployment is done, flows will be collected from the SPAN which has ERSPAN data included. Flow Collector decapsulates the traffic and makes it visible under Network Activity. This is how it will look like:
View Flow Details:
Select any flow to see full ERSPAN metadata, including:
Source IP and Port
Destination IP and Port
Mirrored traffic attributes
Conclusion
ERSPAN extends IBM QRadar’s capabilities to deliver deep, centralized visibility across even the most complex and distributed environments. Whether you’re looking to enhance threat detection, improve compliance monitoring, or streamline network diagnostics, ERSPAN offers a cost-effective and scalable solution.
By integrating ERSPAN with IBM QRadar, organizations can achieve:
Ingest rich flow and metadata
Enhance lateral movement detection
Strengthen overall network defense posture
If you have questions or would like to discuss ERSPAN implementation in more detail, feel free to reach out to us:
Dhaval Trivedi: dhaval.trivedi@ibm.com Boudhayan Chakrabarty (Bob): bochakra@in.ibm.com
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