CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

NEOX NETWORKS vs Network Critical

NEOX NETWORKS provides network visibility for IT and OT observability and security. Network Critical sells modular TAP and Packet Broker solutions for network visibility. CISO Tribune files both under Network visibility and traffic brokering and OT and ICS security. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • NEOX NETWORKS
  • Network Critical
NEOX NETWORKS vs Network Critical: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS provides network visibility for IT and OT observability and security.neoxnetworks.comNetwork CriticalNetwork Critical sells modular TAP and Packet Broker solutions for network visibility.networkcritical.com
What it sells
  • PacketRaven[1][7]Network TAPs that export a copy of data traffic so it can be evaluated with tools.
  • PacketOwl[2][3][8]A set of 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G network security appliances for visibility and real-time threat detection.
  • PacketOwlVirtual[3]The virtual version of PacketOwl for cloud-native and virtualized deployments.
  • PacketRoo[1][9]A data diode that provides galvanic isolation of the networks and enables only unidirectional transmission.
  • NEOXSecureFileTransmitter[9]A software solution for secure, one-way file transfer from OT to IT systems.
  • NEOX PacketOps™ FrameworkA framework that unifies how organizations Access, Direct, Record, and Protect network traffic.
  • Network TAPs[1][3]A network TAP creates an exact copy of all data flowing between two points in a network.
  • Packet Brokers[1][7][8][13]Network packet brokers process inputs from multiple sources and deliver the right traffic to the right tools.
  • Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker[8]A hybrid test access point and packet broker combines the functions of a TAP and a packet broker in one package.
  • Bypass TAPs[9][10]A bypass TAP monitors security devices and reroutes network traffic around failing tools.
  • INVIKTUS[1][11][12]INVIKTUS is a zero-trust security solution.
  • Ethernet TAPs[6]Ethernet TAPs capture network traffic without impacting performance.
  • Passive Fiber TAPs[5]Passive fiber TAPs provide always-on monitoring, including when the power is out.
Categories
Headquarters
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Founded
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Ownership and funding
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Named customers
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Recent news
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G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
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Who it fits
Its pages name the Banking, Utilities, Healthcare, and Government sectors, and target verticals such as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy & Utilities, and Defense. PacketOwl is described as purpose-built for enterprises, data centers, service providers, HFT/HPC environments, edge networks, and other critical deployments. PacketOwl integrates into security environments that are on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid.Network Critical provides bypass TAPs for data centres running inline IPS, firewalls and DDoS mitigation tools. Network Critical describes its data diodes as suitable for highly regulated sectors, such as military, ICS and SCADA infrastructure. Network Critical describes its environmentally protected OT devices as suited to manufacturing floors, utility substations and outdoor installations.
Last verified
November 8, 2026November 8, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Network visibility and traffic brokering is the primary category of both NEOX NETWORKS and Network Critical; both are also filed under OT and ICS security.

Where they differ, field by field

  • NEOX NETWORKS is also filed under Network detection and response and Unidirectional gateways and secure transfer. Network Critical is also filed under DDoS protection.
  • NEOX NETWORKS lists PacketRaven, PacketOwl, PacketOwlVirtual, PacketRoo, NEOXSecureFileTransmitter and 1 more. Network Critical lists Network TAPs, Packet Brokers, Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker, Bypass TAPs, INVIKTUS and 2 more.

How they differ

CISO Tribune files NEOX NETWORKS under Network visibility and traffic brokering, Network detection and response, OT and ICS security, and Unidirectional gateways and secure transfer, with network visibility as its primary category. CISO Tribune files Network Critical under Network visibility and traffic brokering, OT and ICS security, and DDoS protection, with network visibility again as its primary category. Both companies sell network TAPs, and both offer data diode products for one-way transmission.

NEOX NETWORKS also sells PacketOwl, a set of 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G appliances that operates as a unified NIDS, NSM, and NDR platform, plus PacketOwlVirtual for cloud-native and virtualized deployments. It sells NEOXSecureFileTransmitter for one-way file transfer from OT to IT systems and the NEOX PacketOps™ Framework for accessing, directing, recording, and protecting network traffic. Network Critical's lineup centers on Packet Brokers, Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker units, Bypass TAPs, Ethernet TAPs, and Passive Fiber TAPs. Network Critical also sells INVIKTUS, which it describes as a zero-trust security solution. Its bypass TAPs reroute traffic around failing inline security tools.

NEOX states that its network visibility solutions are designed and built in Germany. Network Critical states that it has over 20 years of experience. NEOX's pages name Banking, Utilities, Healthcare, and Government sectors, and it lists Apeiro Networks as a value-added reseller in selected Asia Pacific countries. One NEOX example is Deutsche Bahn, which needed a network visibility platform for its public transportation critical infrastructure. Network Critical says its solutions are used in Finance, Telco, Government, Energy, and Healthcare. It names Bourne Leisure, which deployed SmartNA-XL, and Airbus, where its network TAPs were used in the FdXplorer avionics bus analyser.

What it sells: NEOX NETWORKS

What PacketRaven does[1][7]
NEOXPacketRaven Secure Modular Fiber TAPs are designed for use in critical environments (CRITIS). NEOXPacketRaven Secure Modular Fiber TAPs have an optical isolator and an optical filter with data diode functionality. NEOXPacketRaven vTAP supports tapping of inter-Docker traffic.
What PacketOwl does[2][3][8]
PacketOwl operates as a unified NIDS, NSM, and NDR platform. PacketOwl offers up to 720TB of onboard SSD/SED storage. PacketOwl is integrated with the Stamus Clear NDR solution as a 100Gbps NDR probe.
What PacketOwlVirtual does[3]
NEOX PacketOwlVirtual brings similar capabilities to cloud-native and virtualized deployments. PacketOwl Virtual supports cloud and multi-cloud threat hunting and forensics for SDDC, AWS, Azure, and GCP.
What NEOXSecureFileTransmitter does[9]
NEOXSecureFileTransmitter works independently of the manufacturer and can be integrated into existing infrastructures that already have a data diode. NEOXSecureFileTransmitter combined with PacketRoo forms a solution for Windows and Linux environments.

What it sells: Network Critical

What Network TAPs does[1][3]
A network TAP creates an exact copy of all data flowing between two points in a network. TAPs are used to monitor network traffic for performance, security, or compliance.
What Packet Brokers does[1][7][8][13]
Network packet brokers process inputs from multiple sources and deliver the right traffic to the right tools. SmartNA-PortPlus is a packet broker that aggregates low-speed links onto fewer high-speed tools.
What Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker does[8]
A hybrid test access point and packet broker combines the functions of a TAP and a packet broker in one package. Hybrid TAP and packet brokers offer traffic aggregation, load balancing and port mapping. They use interchangeable, hot-swappable TAP modules, including fail-safe copper.
What Bypass TAPs does[9][10]
A bypass TAP monitors security devices and reroutes network traffic around failing tools. Bypass TAPs send small test signals, known as heartbeats, to security appliances. SmartNA-XL bypass TAPs detect when inline security tools fail and redirect traffic in real-time.
What INVIKTUS does[1][11][12]
INVIKTUS is a zero-trust security solution. INVIKTUS network security is built on the zero-trust framework and analyzes and validates traffic.
What Ethernet TAPs does[6]
Ethernet TAPs capture network traffic without impacting performance. Ethernet TAPs can be deployed as standalone TAPs or within SmartNA chassis for advanced traffic management.

Questions about NEOX NETWORKS and Network Critical

What do NEOX NETWORKS and Network Critical sell?
NEOX NETWORKS sells PacketRaven, PacketOwl, PacketOwlVirtual, PacketRoo, NEOXSecureFileTransmitter and 1 more. Network Critical sells Network TAPs, Packet Brokers, Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker, Bypass TAPs, INVIKTUS and 2 more.
Are NEOX NETWORKS and Network Critical in the same category?
Yes. Network visibility and traffic brokering is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Who are NEOX NETWORKS and Network Critical sold to?
Its pages name the Banking, Utilities, Healthcare, and Government sectors, and target verticals such as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy & Utilities, and Defense. Network Critical provides bypass TAPs for data centres running inline IPS, firewalls and DDoS mitigation tools.

About NEOX NETWORKS

NEOX NETWORKS provides network visibility for IT and OT observability and security. NEOX offers network visibility solutions for hybrid-cloud IT observability, including Network TAPs, Network Packet Brokers, Packet Capture, and Packet Processing and Analysis physical and virtual appliances. NEOX products address network challenges faced by IT Security and Application Operations teams. The NEOX PacketOps™ Framework unifies how organizations Access, Direct, Record, and Protect network traffic across physical, virtual, cloud, AI, IT, and OT environments. NEOX provides access to packet data, directs traffic to tools, records traffic for investigation, and protects critical infrastructure with integrated security controls.[1][3][4]

NEOX states its mission as eliminating blind spots across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Timur Özcan is Founder and Managing Director of NEOX NETWORKS. NEOX network visibility solutions are designed and built in Germany. For security operations, NEOX extracts and forwards log, flow and packet level network data and alerts to security tools. For network operations, NEOX extracts and forwards log, flow, and packet level network data to observability and analysis tools. For cloud operations, NEOX extracts and forwards log, flow, and packet level VPC network data and alerts to security tools. Network challenges named by NEOX include demand for high-speed network traffic access, processing and manipulation to feed security and performance tools, up to 400Gbps.[4][6]

Network TAPs let users export a copy of their data traffic without affecting the active network connection and evaluate it with tools. NEOXPacketRaven Secure Modular Fiber TAPs are designed for use in critical environments (CRITIS). NEOXPacketRaven Secure Modular Fiber TAPs have an optical isolator and an optical filter with data diode functionality that prevent accidental or intentional injections of data into the monitored network. NEOXPacketRavenVirtual is a Virtual Network TAP that provides physical and virtual security and monitoring tools with network visibility in virtualised private, public and hybrid cloud environments. NEOXPacketRaven vTAP supports tapping of inter-Docker traffic, meaning communication between microservices.[1]

PacketOwl is a set of 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G network security appliances for visibility and real-time threat detection. PacketOwl is powered by NEOX’s proprietary FPGA-based architecture and an enhanced version of Suricata, the open-source network threat detection engine, and provides real-time threat detection, logging, and alerting. PacketOwl operates as a unified NIDS, NSM, and NDR platform. PacketOwl generates real-time alerts for SIEM integration, triggered by threats, anomalies, and rules. PacketOwl creates structured logs from security events and IOCs, enriched with contextual metadata. PacketOwl captures packets on detection and IOC triggers, preserving only relevant traffic. PacketOwl offers up to 720TB of onboard SSD/SED storage. PacketOwl handles up to 10,000 events per second with up to 2GB of logs per minute. PacketOwl is described as compliant with Government/Federal EO 14028, M-21-30, and FIPS 140-2. PacketOwl is integrated with the Stamus Clear NDR solution as a 100Gbps NDR probe. PacketOwl Virtual supports cloud and multi-cloud threat hunting and forensics for SDDC, AWS, Azure, and GCP. PacketOwl integrates into existing security environments on-premises, in the cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), or hybrid. PacketOwl appliances come with NEOX SILVER Support and can be upgraded to GOLD Support for advanced replacement in case of a hardware failure.[2][3][8]

NEOXPacketRoo is a data diode that provides galvanic isolation of the networks and enables only unidirectional transmission. NEOXPacketRoo is offered exclusively in fixed configurations where no port settings can be changed after installation. NEOX Networks offers NEOXSecureFileTransmitter, a software solution for secure, one-way file transfer from OT to IT systems. NEOXSecureFileTransmitter works independently of the manufacturer and can be integrated into existing infrastructures that already have a data diode. NEOXSecureFileTransmitter combined with PacketRoo forms a solution for Windows and Linux environments.[9]

NEOX works with enterprises, service providers, and government institutions. PacketOwl is purpose-built for enterprises, data centers, service providers, HFT/HPC environments, edge networks, and other critical deployments. Network challenges named by NEOX include increased need for network intelligence for cybersecurity in sectors such as Banking, Utilities, Healthcare, and Government. NEOX co-creates offerings with industry specialists for verticals such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy & Utilities, Government, and Defense. NEOX is establishing a partner-first channel model across North America, EMEA, and APAC. Apeiro Networks acts as a value-added reseller for NEOX solutions in selected Asia Pacific countries. Deutsche Bahn needed a network visibility platform to strengthen the security posture of its public transportation critical infrastructure. NEOX offers inline-bypass TAPs for security tools during updates or maintenance, and supports encrypted traffic handling and forward proxying for financial data centers and branch deployments. NEOX feeds telemetry to tools for Network Detection & Response (NDR), Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS), and Network Security Monitoring (NSM) across on-prem and hybrid infrastructures.[1][3][4][6][8][9][10][11]

NEOX NETWORKS on the record

Sources

NEOX NETWORKS full record

  1. [1]neoxnetworks.comNEOX NETWORKS · neoxnetworks.com · undated page, accessed November 8, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Neox stamus partnership clearndrNEOX NETWORKS · neoxnetworks.com · published May 5, 2025 · Tier A
  3. [3]New PacketOwl 100Gbps Security Appliance - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · published May 6, 2025 · Tier A
  4. [4]NEOX NETWORKS and APEIRO NETWORKS Partnerto Offer Next-Generation Network Visibility Solutions - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · published April 15, 2024 · Tier A
  5. [5]Unified Network Visibility For IT & OT | NEOX NetworksNEOX NETWORKS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]About Us - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Network TAPs – a Cost-Effective Solution to Bring Transparency and More Security to the Network Infrastructure - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]PacketOwl - Suricata IDS Security Monitoring - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]The Revolutionary Solution for Secure Data Transmission in Critical Infrastructures at it-sa 2024 - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · published October 10, 2024 · Tier A
  10. [10]Global GTM Reach Through Channel and Solution Partnerships - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · published September 4, 2025 · Tier A
  11. [11]Financial Services - NEOX NETWORKSNEOX NETWORKS · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

Network Critical full record

  1. [1]networkcritical.comNetwork Critical · networkcritical.com · undated page, accessed November 8, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Stars group case studyNetwork Critical · networkcritical.com · undated page, accessed November 8, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Aviation Case Study | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Network TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Passive Fiber TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Ethernet TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Network Visibility Solutions | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Bypass TAPs for Inline Data Centre Security | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Network Bypass TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Healthcare Case Study | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]OT Network Monitoring Solutions | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Data Diodes | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

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