Popular Ports and Explanation

Understanding common ports is crucial for Security Operations Center (SOC) teams to effectively monitor and respond to network traffic. Here’s a concise overview of popular ports and their uses:

🌐 Port 80 (HTTP): 1️⃣ Used for unencrypted web traffic. SOC teams monitor this port for unusual activity that might indicate web application attacks.

🔒 Port 443 (HTTPS): 2️⃣ Utilized for secure web traffic encrypted with SSL/TLS. It's essential for protecting sensitive data during transmission.

📧 Port 25 (SMTP): 3️⃣ The standard port for sending emails. Monitoring this port can help identify spam or malicious email traffic.

📬 Port 110 (POP3): 4️⃣ Used by email clients to retrieve emails from a server. SOC teams should monitor for suspicious logins or data exfiltration.

📤 Port 143 (IMAP): 5️⃣ Another protocol for accessing email, allowing multiple devices to manage the same mailbox. SOC teams watch for unauthorized access.

📄 Port 53 (DNS): 6️⃣ Essential for domain name resolution. Abnormal DNS queries may indicate DNS tunneling or other malicious activity.

🖨️ Port 21 (FTP): 7️⃣ Used for transferring files over the internet. It's critical to monitor this port for unauthorized file transfers or data breaches.

🔗 Port 22 (SSH): 8️⃣ Provides secure shell access for remote management. SOC teams monitor for failed login attempts that could indicate brute-force attacks.

🎮 Port 3389 (RDP): 9️⃣ Used for Remote Desktop Protocol, allowing remote management of Windows servers. Monitoring this port can help prevent unauthorized access.

🎧 Port 5060 (SIP): 🔟 Used for Voice over IP (VoIP) signaling. SOC teams should monitor for suspicious VoIP traffic, which could indicate potential attacks on telecommunication services.

By understanding these ports and their functions, SOC teams can enhance their incident response strategies and better protect organizational assets.