Introduction to Network Assessment
Are you not finishing your work on time because of the slow office computer? Are you still using ancient workstations with outdated software? Is it taking too much time for web pages to load on your web browser? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then it is time for network assessment steps.
Network assessment is a term that refers to various network processes, as well as the process of finding old hardware equipment. It can also refer to the evaluation of network performance or scanning the network for vulnerabilities. You can do all these things if you know computer network assessment steps.
The people from your IT department know how to perform a network assessment. They have a comprehensive network assessment checklist and use a network assessment tool or network assessment software.
You will learn the different network assessment steps in the next section. You will also learn what network assessment tool is suitable for your needs.
The Essential Network Assessment Steps
At this point, you might be wondering how to perform a network assessment. Conducting a network assessment exposes the weaknesses of your network so you can fix these issues before an attacker exploits it. Here are the essential steps in performing a network assessment:
| Network Assessment Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Network assessment preparation |
Every process or method begins with planning and preparation. You do not go to war unless you have a weapon first! This is where setting up the expectations of customers occurs. Defining the scope and length of the assessment happens here as well. The network configuration plays a vital role here. Enabling SNMP and Telnet are a couple of the prerequisites. Information gathering about the network infrastructure also takes place here. |
| 2. Conducting the network assessment |
There are many network assessment tools out there. There is no perfect one, and you will likely use a combination of two or more. These tools should be able to do network inventory, analysis, and diagram. They should also be able to do network performance and security assessments. |
| 3. Post-assessment reports and recommendations |
You cannot picture the output of the network assessment steps without the reports. The data gathered should also be presentable. Your tools should identify, report, and recommend solutions for the various issues. |
You now know the essential network assessment steps. Let’s now go over what tool you should be using in the next section.
The Essential Network Assessment Steps
The first thing to look for in a tool is its various features or benefits. Conducting network assessment steps is easier and faster when using tools. Here are the various features to look for in a network assessment software:
| Features | Other Vendors | ITarian |
|---|---|---|
|
Not all software vendors provide support for endpoint devices. |
ITarian’s network assessment tool supports endpoint devices. This includes smartphones, laptops, and tablets. When doing network assessment steps, it should cover all components, including endpoint devices. |
|
Some tools are hard to use. You need to read the entire manual to be able to use it, which gives a bad user experience. |
ITarian is easy to use and has a central dashboard for various functionalities. ITarian allows users to add networks via Active Directory, Workgroup, and IP range. |
|
Most software vendors provide reporting features. |
ITarian takes reporting to a higher level. Its network assessment tool lets you customize the reports. Here are those reports:
Reporting is usually done after the post-network assessment steps. |
|
Not all software vendors provide recommendation for the issues. |
ITarian’s network assessment tool scans for vulnerabilities and recommends possible solutions. You do not have to buy a separate tool to resolve an issue. Choosing ITarian is a cost-effective solution. Providing recommendations is also part of the post-network assessment steps. |
Those are the network assessment tool features you should be looking for. A tool aids in doing network assessment steps.
Conclusion
You learned what a network assessment is in the introduction part of this article. You also now know the essential network assessment steps. And you discovered the network assessment tool features you should be looking for.
ITarian offers many amazing features without extra costs. ITarian saves you time, money, and effort. For more information about network assessment steps, please click here.
