Network traffic monitoring apparatus (10) for monitoring network traffic on a network path (102) and a method of monitoring network traffic on a network path is disclosed. The apparatus (10) comprises a first path (12) for receiving a portion of the network traffic from the network path (102) and a monitoring port (15) for monitoring the portion of network traffic. The apparatus (10) further comprises a switch (13) having an input port (13a) which is communicatively coupled to the first path (12), and an output port (13b) which is communicatively coupled to the monitoring port (15). The switch is arranged to selectively toggle between the first state (13b) in which the portion of network traffic can pass from the input port (13a) to the output port (13b) and a second state (13c), in which the portion of network traffic is prevented from passing from the input port (13a) to the output port (13b), in dependence of a switching signal (25). The apparatus further comprises a second path (18) for communicating a monitoring status signal, which is representative of a monitoring event, to a network device (16).