Ntwrk frnscs s sb-brnch f dgtl frnscs rltng t th mntrng nd nlyss f cmptr ntwrk trffc fr th prpss f nfrmtn gthrng, lgl vdnc, r ntrsn dtctn. nlk thr rs f dgtl frnscs, ntwrk nvstgtns dl wth vltl nd dynmc nfrmtn. Ntwrk trffc s trnsmttd nd thn lst, s ntwrk frnscs s ftn pr-ctv nvstgtn.
Ntwrk frnscs gnrlly hs tw ss. Th frst, rltng t scrty, nvlvs mntrng ntwrk fr nmls trffc nd dntfyng ntrsns. n ttckr mght b bl t rs ll lg fls n cmprmsd hst; ntwrk-bsd vdnc mght thrfr b th nly vdnc vlbl fr frnsc nlyss. Th scnd frm rlts t lw nfrcmnt. n ths cs nlyss f cptrd ntwrk trffc cn ncld tsks sch s rssmblng trnsfrrd fls, srchng fr kywrds nd prsng hmn cmmnctn sch s mls r cht sssns.
Tw systms r cmmnly sd t cllct ntwrk dt; brt frc "ctch t s y cn" nd mr ntllgnt "stp lk lstn" mthd.