Network Forensics Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis By Component (Hardware and Software), By Deployment (Cloud and On-premises), By Enterprise Type (SMEs and Large Enterprises), By Application (Endpoint Security, Data Center Security, Network Security, and Others (Application Security)), and Regional Forecast, 2026-2034

The global network forensics market size was valued at USD 2.85 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow from USD 3.35 billion in 2026 to USD 12.13 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.45% during the forecast period.

The global network forensics market is surging with an increasing need for these solutions due to the rising occurrence of cyberattacks and security breaches. Network forensics in cyber-security refers to the monitoring, capturing, and analysis of network traffic to obtain new pertinent information, determine unauthorized presence, and provide legal evidence. It finds application in finance, governmental bodies, healthcare, and retail sectors, requiring robust security solutions to protect sensitive information and comply with regulations.

Moreover, growing concerns regarding stringent compliance requirements across industries and advances in the adoption of AI- or ML-based network forensics tools that augment threat detection and response capabilities are other contributors to the growth of the market.

Network Forensics Market Driver

IoT Growth Expands Attack Surface Driving Market Growth

The introduction of an exponentially growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and connected infrastructure has led to a vast increase in the attack surface and its resultant security threats. Most IoT devices are not designed to be highly secure, therefore increasing the opportunity for successful attacks. Network forensics products are paramount in monitoring traffic through such ecosystems and allow firms to effectively detect and dissect malicious activities.

• According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), by 2026, the global network forensic tools market is anticipated to surpass 45% of the total cybersecurity tools market.

Network Forensics Market Restraint

High Deployment Costs Limit Market Growth

The network forensics market is limited by the high cost of deploying these forensic solutions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Such solutions almost always require heavy investment in terms of hardware, software, and skilled personnel. Moreover, their regular maintenance and updates further burden the cost, deterring their application by cost-sensitive organizations.

Network Forensics Market Opportunity

Cloud Forensics and AI Drive Market Growth

All Internet of Things (IoT) devices are experiencing an exponential growth that poses a very attractive growth window for the network forensics market. It is the very growth of IoT ecosystems that creates new security threats requiring capable forensic tools for scanning and analyzing network traffic.

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Rising Cybersecurity Threats and Attack Trends, By Key Regions
• Drivers, Restraints, Trends, and Opportunities in the Network Forensics Market
• Cloud and AI Adoption in Network Forensics Solutions
• Regulatory Compliance Impact on Market Growth (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, NIS2 Directive)
• Market Share and Growth Rate Analysis, By Key Regions
• Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Market Players
• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships, Product Launches)

Segmentation

Analysis by Component

By component, the market is divided into hardware and software.

Network monitoring appliances, storage solutions, and forensic desktops form part of the hardware segment necessary to capture and monitor network traffic. Rising cyberattacks and escalating volumes of data influence the demand for fast forensic hardware. Organizations make an investment in next-generation hardware technology to maximize real-time threat discovery and response.

Network forensic software facilitates deep packet inspection, log analysis, and anomaly detection to detect cyber threats. Increased use of AI-driven analytics and automation increases investigation capabilities. Cloud forensic solutions are becoming popular as they are scalable and efficient in managing sophisticated security incidents.

Analysis by Deployment

By deployment, the market is divided into cloud and on-premises.

The cloud-based way of doing network forensics offers advantages in terms of scalability, remote accessibility, and reduced cost—traits well-suited for modern-day business environments. As cloud use increases and cyber threats proliferate, there will then be a rising demand for forensic tools capable of analyzing traffic in geographically distributed networks, driving the dominance of the cloud segment. Enterprises prefer cloud deployment due to its flexibility in integrating with different AI-enabled security analytics tools.

Deployment on premises offers superior control, security, and regulatory compliance, such that industries processing sensitive information prioritize it. The segment is anticipated to witness significant expansion as large upfront costs as well as high maintenance needs are balanced by deeper data privacy capabilities and customization benefits. On-premises choices are preferred in large enterprises as well as governments for protecting business-critical infrastructures.

Analysis by Enterprise Type

By enterprise type, the market is divided into SMEs and large enterprises.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are increasingly using network forensics solutions to defend against mounting cyber threats. Affordable cloud-based solutions and AI-powered automation enable forensics to be made available to SMEs with scarce IT resources. Increasing regulatory compliance needs are also propelling SME spending on cybersecurity and forensic tools, impelling the considerable expansion of the segment.

Large enterprises implement sophisticated network forensics technology to protect massive volumes of data and intricate IT systems. The segment is estimated to hold a dominant share as these enterprises spend heavily on AI-driven analytics, real-time threat detection, and on-premises security software for more effective protection. Rigorous regulatory requirements and the expense of a data breach necessitate ongoing enhancement of forensic capability.

Analysis by Application

By application, the market is divided into endpoint security, data center security, and network security.

In endpoint security, network forensics helps in identifying and analyzing cyber-attacks on specific endpoints such as computers, mobiles, and IoT devices. On the other hand, the growth of remote work and bring your own device (BYOD) has increased the need for advanced endpoint monitoring, propelling the segment’s significant expansion. AI-enabled forensic tools enhance real-time threat detection and incident response at the endpoint.

Network forensics plays a critical role in data center security concerning unauthorized access, DDoS attacks, and insider threats. The segment is anticipated to lead the market. Given the rising popularity of cloud computing and hyperscale data centers, forensic solutions assure compliance and visibility of threats. Data center defenses against advanced cyberattacks are bolstered by advanced analytics and automated threat detection techniques.

Network forensics aligns end-to-end network security by analyzing traffic, turning crime reports, and investigating intrusions in the real-time paradigm. Cyberattacks such as ransomware and APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats) trigger the deductions for effective forensic tools. AI-driven analytics and deep packet inspection empower organizations to detect and remediate these network vulnerabilities ahead of time.

Regional Analysis

Based on geography, the market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. 

It is expected that North America will take the larger share of the global network forensics market. This is primarily caused by increased incidences of high-level cyberattacks and strict regulatory environments, which urge organizations to use sophisticated forms of network forensics tools. Furthermore, the region's robust technology infrastructures also add to investments in cybersecurity to promote market growth.

The other major region is Europe, which continues to depict vast growth, as a result of the establishment of legislations for data protection example being the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The strict policies push organizations to deploy all-around security measures such as network forensics in compliance. The increased digitalization of data within different industries in the region, adds an impetus to the demand for improved network security solutions.

The Asia-Pacific region is poised to exhibit rapid growth. This comes from the proliferation of IoT devices and digital technologies across both China and India which significantly increases the attack surfaces and therefore necessitates advanced network forensics solutions. Increased investments in network security hardware in the region can also be attributed to consumers becoming more aware of the regional cybersecurity threats.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of the following key players:

•  Broadcom (U.S.) 
• Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.) 
• Fortinet, Inc. (U.S.) 
• IBM Corporation (U.S.) 
• SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. (U.S.) 
• Netscout Systems, Inc. (U.S.) 
• VIAVI Solutions Inc. (U.S.) 
• Splunk LLC (U.S.) 
• RSA Security (U.S.) 
• LogRhythm, Inc. (U.S.) 
• Netsurion (U.S.) 
• Juniper Networks, Inc. (U.S.) 
• Musarubra US LLC (U.S.) 
• CrowdStrike (U.S.)      

Key Industry Developments

• In June 2024, Cisco launched Cisco Hypershield, an AI-native security architecture for safeguarding today's data centers running at AI scale. Hypershield brings security enforcement to virtual machines and Kubernetes clusters on public clouds through open-source technology such as eBPF, and provides protection to sophisticated silicon in servers and network devices.
• In December 2020, NETSCOUT Systems launched a cybersecurity forensics solution that is designed for AWS cloud workloads. This extension of their Smart Perimeter Protection to the public cloud provides packet-based threat hunting and incident response to help organizations enhance efficiencies and defend against nascent security threats when migrating to the cloud.
•  In November 2020, FireEye acquired Respond Software, a cybersecurity automation of investigation firm famous for its Respond Analyst. The USD 186 million acquisition was intended to improve FireEye's Extended Detection and Response (XDR) offerings, allowing automated correlation of multi-source attack evidence to speed up cyber investigations.