how to use nessus to protect the network

Perimeter/cloud scanning allows you to truly see what external attackers see, from outside your network. Host-based assessments can probe the patch level and security configuration of the system to discover vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

Host scanning looks beyond the existence of the system - or its active services and open ports - and analyzes the security configuration of the system itself. But, active scanning returns more comprehensive results, more quickly, than passive scanning. Active scanning sends out packets to probe the network and can be used to find open ports and active systems that may not be broadcasting their presence.Īctive scanning is intrusive and might be detected as suspicious activity, so attackers are less likely to employ active scanning tools. Nessus can conduct passive scans so companies can pre-emptively discover what an attacker might see, identify issues and take action to protect systems.Īctive scanning is the opposite of passive scanning. A “passive” scan doesn't actively scan it sits, listens and waits for the network data to come to it.Īttackers have a variety of tools available to perform passive scanning (also known as network sniffing) to compile a list of the active systems, applications and services advertising themselves. Passive scanning looks for systems and services that broadcast their presence across the network. The Nessus Scanner can perform four basic types of scans to identify network vulnerabilities and weaknesses: Plain and simple, the bad guys employ tools and techniques to find holes in target networks, so there is no reason that you can't use the same tools and techniques to beat them to the punch and close the holes to protect your network. It is time to be more proactive about securing your network by employing a tool such as the Nessus Scanner from Tenable Security to identify weaknesses before the bad guys do. Would your network withstand an attack? How do you know?

Thanks to the recent exploits of groups like Anonymous and LulzSec, it is glaringly apparent that hacking into the organizations of most networks is mere child's play. Networks are being compromised and sensitive data exposed almost daily.

How to use nessus to protect the network