Before we can talk about building something (in this case, network security tools), we need to adequately define what that something is. Clinically,
A network security tool is an algorithmic implement that is designed to probe, assess, or increase the overall safety of or to mitigate the risk associated with an entity across a communications medium.
This chapter offers a new paradigm, or model, for defining network security tools. It graphically details each layer of the model and introduces a new taxonomy to classify tool types. Finally, the chapter closes by fitting the model into a widely known accepted process for developing software. This chapter enables the reader to develop a firm grasp on what a network security tool is and how to begin planning development.