US Patent 11916771 Combining passive network analysis and active probing

Embodiments are directed monitoring network traffic using network monitoring computers. Metrics may be determined based on monitoring network traffic associated with entities in the network such that the metrics may be included in profiles associated each entity. The profiles may be compared with other profiles in a context database based on the metrics included in each profile and each other profile. In response to the profiles being unmatched by other profiles one or more active probes may be performed to collect other metrics that may be used to update profiles. In response to the one or more profiles being matched by the other profiles in the context database, a timestamp associated with the other profiles may be updated to a current time value. Reports that include information associated with the entities and the profiles or the updated profiles may be generated.