Dynamic network tuner for the automated correlation of networking device functionality and network-related performance

A dynamic network tuner establishes fluid, continuous, and automatic correlation between the extent and/or degree of a networking device's functionality, on the one hand, and the network-related performance (i.e., network data traffic and/or network application performance), on the other. The dynamic network tuner can be embodied as a discrete device ready for installation into a host network. Preferably, such (and like) tuner embodiments are integrated into a network to automatically correlate, according to user-predefined parameters, the network's performance with the operation within the network of specifically-targeted, performance-altering networking devices, such as network security devices, or more preferably and particularly, intrusion prevention devices.