Network scanning in cyber security
Network analysis can provide fundamental insights into devices and operation, making problem-solving easier, network scanning techniques.
It's important to regularly scan your network to ensure that all connected devices are functioning properly. This is how to scan your network to identify the devices there, what is a network scan, see how they're doing, and understand the traffic that is passing through them. Some of these tasks can be carried out manually, but for the best results, I advise using a network scanning tool.
What is Network Scanning?
Do you wish to view every device connected to the network? The procedure that enables you to identify all active devices on your network is known as "network scanning" in the common usage of the term. The process of actively scanning involves the tool pinging every network device and waiting for a response. The scanner then examines the responses to determine if there are any flaws or inconsistencies.
How to work network scanning
This is frequently carried out for IP networks by pinging each potential IP address to ascertain its status. Using an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) scan, you can manually ping your subnet. However, using a tool that can automatically run scans and discover devices is your best bet if you want to see every device on the network across all subnets. It is more difficult to use the required Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) scan, but it is possible. You must make requests with an echo, timestamp, or subnet mask. This method is frequently used to map network topology.
Utilising information gathered by the scanner, network scanning aims to manage, maintain, and secure the system. Network scanning is done to identify the network services that are available, find and identify any filtering systems that may be in place, see which operating systems are in use, and defend the network from attacks. It can also be used to assess the network's general health.
What is Passive Scanning?
Network scanning is also referred to as packet sniffing, also known as passive scanning, which records and keeps track of data packets used in network traffic. For you to easily translate packet data into understandable and pertinent information, you must deploy a tool and implement sensors on managed devices and applications if you want to track the packet-level traffic on your network.
This method examines network data as soon as a system or device is present and beginning to send messages to the network. In practise, networks release enough data during routine communications that passive scanners can simply observe the traffic flow without needing to ping the individual devices. This can assist in exposing the network's bottlenecks, protocols, and types of traffic. By spotting anomalies, it can also reveal potential security risks.
Passive scanning has some drawbacks, including the inability to identify objects or programmes that never exchange data (such as idle devices and programmes) and the potential for issues brought on by infected systems purposefully disseminating false information. Nevertheless, it's an essential method of network scanning and ought to be in your toolbox.
How to Use Network Scanning Tools
Network scanning example
If you have a lot of devices on your network or if it's big enough to have multiple subnets, you must use a network scanning tool. Large networks are challenging to manually manage, and doing so puts your company at serious security risk. The market is filled with a variety of scanning tools, each taking a slightly different approach to the job.
To automatically scan your network, I advise using SolarWinds® Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and its network scanning solution. The main method used by this tool to reveal a variety of important network data is passive scanning. You can use it as a network discovery and performance management tool to find out what hardware and software are on your network and to quickly build network topologies. To find out if devices are functioning properly, whether they are accessible, or if the network has any errors, you can scan the network information.
NPM can analyse and keep an eye on multi-vendor networks in addition to giving you insightful network visualisations. I like the intelligent visualisations because they can help you understand your network from a node-by-node perspective, like heat maps and comparative graphs. This assists in troubleshooting, locating issues, or identifying weak points that might be exposed to attacks. Additionally, NPM scales to much larger environments and businesses. Additionally, I think it's simple for new users to understand how to use NPM.
How to detect port scanning attacks
Consider using IP Address Manager (IPAM), another SolarWinds tool, if you're looking for IP address network scanning. This tool is more concentrated on managing and finding IP-based devices, even across subnets. Although NPM is a more capable tool for monitoring performance and traffic, you should be able to manage your IP addresses as well, especially on a large network. I recommend giving IPAM a try if you're looking for this kind of network scanning.
Holm Security Network Scanning Tool is an additional passive scanning tool you should take into consideration. This tool continuously and automatically scans your network for weaknesses. It focuses in particular on problems like insecure passwords, improperly configured systems, outdated software, and exposed services and functions. You can also use it to map out your network by scanning it across all of your local environments. Then you can arrange, prioritise, or address vulnerabilities.
The Swascan Network Scan tool is also helpful if you're looking for efficient packet sniffing. First off, using the interface is fun, easy, and clean. The Network Scan tool offers detailed information about vulnerabilities in your network through high-quality data analysis and graphs. The detailed action plan in the reports and accompanying managers can then help you to correct these mistakes.
Network Scanning Today
Network scanning techniques Consider which type of scanning you require before beginning if you're wondering how to scan your network. Managing devices and IP addresses? Manual IP scanning might be sufficient, but there are plenty of user-friendly IP manager tools available. Although it is more difficult, performing packet sniffing is a crucial task to make sure you have network control. This entails using the appropriate sensors and a programme that converts packet data into understandable information. I suggest the SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor due to its scalability, heat map visualisations, clean interface, and extensive set of tools for managing network issues and scanning for potential issues.
