What Is Network Scanning and How Does It Work? - MakeUseOf

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Cybercriminals are always looking for the next network to attack. Ony tiny opportunity is all they need to strike. Network scanning comes in handy to protect your network from their antics.

You can use data obtained from network scanning to tighten your cybersecurity as it allows you to identify active devices connected to your network and how they interact with the internal and external components.

Read along as we discuss network scanning in detail and how you can leverage it to create a more secured network.

What Is Network Scanning?

Network scanning is the process of troubleshooting the active devices on your system for vulnerabilities. It identifies and examines the connected devices by deploying one or more features in the network protocol. These features pick up vulnerability signals and give you feedback on the security status of your network.

Network scanning facilitates system maintenance, monitoring, and security assessments. When implemented effectively, network scanning gives you insights into some of the best ways to protect your network against cyberattacks.

How Does Network Scanning Work?

Network scanning is simplified with innovative solutions. One way to implement network scanning without breaking your back is the use of network administrators.

Network administrators scan your network to evaluate IP addresses and detect live hosts connected to it.

Keep in mind that cybercriminals use the same technique to spot weaknesses in your network. The idea is to identify the loopholes before the bad guys discover them.

For network administrators to identify how IP addresses are mapped in the network, they may need to use tools such as Nmap.

Nmap is an effective network scanning tool that uses IP packets to detect devices attached to a network. It helps to simplify the mapping of IP addresses.

You can use network scanners to inspect where the network is stronger or weaker in your workplace with the help of network administrators.

A basic working rule of network scanning is to identify all devices on a network and map their IP addresses. To do this, you must use the network scanner to forward a packet to all available IP addresses connected to the network.

After sending this ping, you need to wait for their response. Once the feedback arrives, the network scanner uses them to measure the status and inconsistencies of the host or application. During this process, the responding devices are active while the non-responding devices are inactive.

Network administrators can also use Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) scan to evaluate the system manually. But if the goal of the network administrator is to reach all active hosts, it's advisable to use tools that support automatic running scans.

One of the best tools that you can use to attain such a milestone is the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) scan. It helps you map the network accurately without failure.

Many security-conscious companies allocate high budgets to advanced network scanning tools to secure their networking systems. But they may not get the desired results if they make the wrong choice. The effective scanning tools you should consider include, Acunetix, Nikto, Spyse, Swascan, IP Address Manager, and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor.

Types of Network Scanners

Scanning your network properly requires using the right tools and methods. Each method is determined by what you want to achieve with your scanning. There are two major kinds of network scanning—port scanning and vulnerability scanning.

1. Port Scanning

Port scanning enables you to identify open ports in a network that can receive or send data. You can use it to send packets to targeted ports on a device. This process highlights loopholes and analyzes performance feedback.

Before implementing port scanning, you have to identify the list of active devices and maps to their IP addresses.

The primary goal of port scanning is to use the data it acquires from active devices to diagnose security levels.

2. Vulnerability Scanning

Vulnerability scanning helps you to detect vulnerabilities that exist on your network. Running a check on your system exposes threats that were hidden away from you.

In most organizations, vulnerability scanning is conducted by the IT department. But if you want to get thorough feedback, consider hiring a third-party security expert. Since they aren't familiar with your network, they'll conduct an objective analysis from an outsider's perspective.

Vulnerability scanning can also be performed by cyberattackers intending to identify weak spots in your network. Beat them to it by identifying and closing the weak links.

Besides identifying loopholes, vulnerability scanning also evaluates the security capacity of your network against cyberattacks. It uses a database to analyze possible attacks. This database provides the vulnerability scanner with packet construction anomalies, flaws, default configurations, paths to sensitive data, and coding bugs that can enable cyber attackers to exploit your network.

What Are the Benefits of Network Scanning?

Like most innovative solutions, network scanning offers several benefits. One thing is certain—it gives your system a better footing. In what ways exactly, though? Let's take a look.

1. Increased Network Performance

Network scanning plays a key role in increasing network performance and maximizing the speed of network operations.

In a complex organizational network, multiple subnets of various IP addresses are assigned to several devices to improve their performance on the system. Scanning these devices helps to remove clogs and creates a free flow for optimal performance.

2. Protection Against Cyberattacks

Network scanning is so useful that cybercriminals also use it to discover vulnerabilities in a network. When you fail to scan your network for threats and vulnerabilities, you're indirectly inviting attackers for a visit.

Carrying out regular network scanning is an effective way to keep your system free from cyberattacks. It's similar to implementing intrusion detection systems to spot emerging threats.

3. Save Time and Money

Scanning your network manually is tedious and time-consuming. The scanning process could linger for long. Your work is on hold, making you lose money in the long run.

Network scanning is an automated process. It evaluates tons of data within a short time. You get it over with as soon as possible and keep your workflow moving.

Prioritizing the Security of Your Network

It's inadvisable to think that you're not on the radar of cybercriminals. Every active computer network is a potential target, and the effects of cyberattacks are stronger in the absence of precautionary or defensive measures.

Being proactive in securing your system with network scanning may not completely rule out the possibility of a cyberattack, but it reduces the chance to the barest minimum. Your scanners will pick up existing vulnerabilities and threats in your network early enough before they escalate.

It's like being several steps ahead of the bad guys; you get to see the gaps and close them before they come close.

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About The Author

Chris Odogwu (40 Articles Published)

Chris Odogwu is committed to imparting knowledge through his writing. A passionate writer, he's open to collaborations, networking, and other business opportunities. He holds a master’s degree in Mass Communication (Public Relations and Advertising major) and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.