A network tap (Test Access Point) is a device used for monitoring network traffic. It allows the technician to passively observe the traffic between two network nodes in real-time without introducing latency or affecting the network's performance. By using a network tap, the technician can analyze the data packets flowing through the network to identify if packet loss is occurring, which could be contributing to the slow network traffic in the branch office.
References: Network taps are widely recognized in the field of network troubleshooting and monitoring for their ability to provide a mirror of the traffic that can be analyzed for issues such as packet loss.