Which traffic inspection method involves analyzing the entire data packet?

The method that involves analyzing the entire data packet is proxy-based inspection. This approach establishes a dedicated connection between the client and the server through the proxy. As a result, the proxy examines not just headers but the complete payload of data packets as they traverse the network. This thorough analysis enables the detection of a wide range of threats, including hidden malware or malicious content that may be embedded within the packet's data payload.

In contrast, flow-based inspection looks at metadata or statistics about the data streams (like source and destination addresses, ports, and protocols) rather than inspecting the entire content of packets. Simplified check methods typically utilize heuristics or predetermined rules to filter traffic without delving deeply into the payloads. Data sampling involves inspecting only a subset of packets rather than performing a comprehensive analysis of all traffic. Each of these methods has its own use cases and benefits, but proxy-based inspection is unique in its thoroughness regarding packet analysis.