With cyber attacks and data breaches affecting more businesses than ever, the one thing that’s getting more important is – network security.
Businesses have to not just take active but proactive measures. That’s how they will be able to protect their sensitive information. And for this, the most powerful tool available as of today’s date are IP Discovery Tools.
These tools help organisations to identify and map the devices connected to their networks. Since businesses have information of all the IP addresses in use, addressing vulnerabilities gets easier.
If looked into between the lines – IP discovery goes beyond just network security. How? It allows businesses to check out underutilised IP addresses. Let’s get into the details now, but before that:
Why is Network Security Important as per slurp’it?
Businesses have to safeguard their assets – including all the sensitive data and intellectual property. Next, comes operational security. Post this even reputation management is a cause. When the network security is enough, clients and stakeholders trust the company more.
Yet another important aspect of network security is compliance with regulations. There are multiple industry-specific and global standards, such as GDPR and HIPAA. If you are adhering to these, you can avoid many legal consequences.
What are some Common Network Security Threats?
Now let’s look into network security threats. Some popular ones are:
● Malware: Includes viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. Malware can infiltrate networks through infected email attachments, compromised websites, or vulnerable software.
● Unauthorised Access: Happens usually because of weak passwords, unpatched areas, or through social engineering tactics. Cybercriminals exploit these weaknesses to gain access to networks.
● Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: Disruption of services by attacking network resources, which might result in financial losses.
Also, one more cause: disgruntled employees. There could be negligent users, or compromised accounts which could compromise network integrity.
How IP Discovery Tools Work at slurp’it?
Here comes the main part. How it can come to your rescue.
These tools actually provide organisations a clear understanding of network infrastructure.
Additionally IP discovery tools does:
● Active Scanning: Actively scans and maps an organisation’s network. It even identifies all devices and IP addresses connected to the network.
● Checks Inventory: Again provides a detailed view of the network. This includes wired and wireless devices, virtual assets, and cloud-based resources.
● Collects Data: Businesses actually get information about each asset, like operating systems, open ports, running services, and potential issues with IP discovery tools.
● Uses a Combination of Techniques: IP discovery tools uses both active scanning (e.g., port scanning) and passive monitoring (observing network traffic) for thorough detection, which obviously is a win-win for organisations.
Benefits of Using IP Discovery Tools for Network Security in Slurp’it
Since we have explored what IP discovery tools are capable of doing, let’s get into the benefits now:
● Identifies and catalogues every device connected to the network.
● Provides a clear and up-to-date understanding of network topology
● Detects unauthorised or rogue devices that may pose security risks.
● Also gathers information about each device. Starting from operating systems, to open ports, running services, and issues.
● Examines the overall security posture of the network easily
When it comes to network optimisation, these tools can:
● Identify unused or underutilised IP addresses.
● Frees up valuable resources and reduces operational costs.
For resource management, the tool:
● Provides insights into current utilisation of IP address space.
● Helps plan for future network growth and expansion.
● Ensures efficient management of network capacity.
IP discovery tools also integrate easily with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and SIEM
platforms. Hence, businesses actually get a comprehensive and unified view of the network.
How to Choose the Right IP Discovery Tool?
If you want to grab all the benefits mentioned above, you have to select the right IP discovery
tool. And some factors you must consider while making a purchase as per slurp’it are:
● Make sure the tool provides extensive visibility into all network devices.
● The tool must be capable of handling growing network sizes and complexities.
● Ofcourse a user-friendly interface is a must, because we don’t want to complicate the process for IT teams.
● Better reporting features. You should be able to get valuable insights into network security posture and resource utilisation.
● Check out the initial acquisition cost. Look for maintenance fees, and deployment requirements (on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid).
Now you are all set to successfully implement and integrate IP discovery tools. But just a reminder, make sure to evaluate your existing network infrastructure and security requirements before implementation. Give your team the right training. And integrate the tool with all your security solutions available. At slurp’it you’ll be able to make the most out of your investment!
