Someone with malicious intent will look for a weakness in your network and attack it. This is the mindset of a cybercriminal. You must always be one step ahead of them. Using network security assessment tools will help you stop them.
What is network security assessment? It is the process of identifying security holes in a network. Its aim is to expose as many weaknesses or vulnerabilities as it can before an attacker does. Another term for network security assessment is vulnerability scanning. A vulnerability scanner can help you find these security holes. The best web vulnerability scanner should be easy to use, has many features, and is free.
You will learn more about network security assessment in this article, as well as the benefits of using network security assessment tools. You will also learn the steps in vulnerability assessment and understand why ITarian offers the best security solutions.
Benefits of Using Network Security AssessmentTools
A vulnerability assessment often comes with penetration testing. A popular term for this duo is VAPT. Penetration testing simulates an actual attack on an application, system, or network.
Here are the various benefits when using network security assessmenttools:
- Network security assessment tools help recognize the network’s vulnerabilities. This exposes the security holes of your network, so you can provide fixes.
- They create an inventory of all network devices, along with each of its vulnerabilities. This is helpful in the patching process and in future assessments.
- Using network security assessmenttools tests the effectiveness of your security measures. They also define the risk level of vulnerabilities in your network.
- Conducting network security assessments aids in achieving and maintaining compliance with security standards. An example of this standard is PCI DSS, or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
- Network security assessment tools confirm the effectiveness of system and security updates.
- These tools give accurate remediation steps in detecting current vulnerabilities. They also prevent future attacks from happening.
- They protect the integrity of assets in case there’s existing hidden malicious code.
Those are a few benefits you get from using network security assessmenttools. You will learn the steps of vulnerability assessment in the next section.
Network Security Assessment Steps
There are steps to take when conducting vulnerability scanning. Your network security assessmenttools should be able to do each one with accuracy. Here are the steps of a network security assessment:
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Intentions and aims.
In this steps, you define the objectives and goals of vulnerability scanning. What is your purpose in conducting this network security assessment?
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Range
Up to what extent will your assessment cover? There are three approaches when defining the range or scope of an assessment:
- White Box Testing. The assessor has knowledge of the network already. The testing happens inside the network. Another term for this is internal testing.
- Grey Box Testing. Testing can be either from the outside or the inside. The assessor also has prior knowledge of the network. It is a mix of both white and black box testing.
- Black Box Testing. The assessor has no prior knowledge of the target network. The testing occurs outside of it. This simulates the attack of a cybercriminal over the web.
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Gathering of data
This is where the collection of data takes place. It gathers information on the operating system, IP addresses, and the network itself.
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Identification of vulnerabilities.
Using your network security assessment tools happens here. Your tools will scan the entire network for any sign of weakness or vulnerability.
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Analysis of data and planning
This is where the assessor analyzes the discovered vulnerabilities. Creating a penetration plan into the target network happens here as well. You now know the steps when conducting a network security assessment. You will learn the features of network security assessment tools in the next section.
The Features of Network Security AssessmentTools
Every buyer has their preference when choosing a product or service. Some look only at the brand name, without any prior investigation or inspection. Some prefer buying cheap products without knowing the features. The wisest buyer researches their target product first.
Visiting product forums and hearing the feedback of customers is important. They provide you with their experience using the product or service. This also applies when choosing network security assessmenttools.
Here are features of network security assessmenttools to look for:
- It should be easy to use and easy to set up. ITarian’s network assessment tool has a user interface that is easy to use. It also allows users to add networks with ease.
- It should support endpoint devices. ITarian’s network assessment tool scans endpoint devices. This includes smartphones, tablets, and laptops with a connection to the network.
- It should provide detailed risk reports. ITarian offers customizable reports, along with mitigation plans containing the remediation.
Conclusion
You have learned all about network security assessment, the benefits of using network security assessmenttools, and the steps when doing a network security assessment. You also know what features to look for in a network assessment tool.
ITarian offers many amazing network security assessmenttools. It is a cost-effective security solution for your business needs. Sign up now and enjoy using it for free!
