A system for monitoring a signal on an optical fiber includes a fiber optic connector having a housing couplable to a receptacle. An optical fiber that transmits a first optical signal has first fiber core at least partially surrounded by a cladding and has a first end terminating proximate the housing. The first optical signal is transmitted along the first fiber core. An optical tap has a first tap waveguide arranged and is configured to receive at least part of the first optical signal as a first tap signal. The first tap waveguide comprises an output port for the first tap signal for directing the tap signal to a detector unit. In other embodiments, a detector unit detects light from the optical signal that is propagating along the fiber cladding.