Larger organizations may use their network performance and security tools for discovery, and feed that data into their configuration management database (CMDB). This process doesn’t scale, and the results are incomplete.

Some organizations rely on a combination of solutions–like their vulnerability scanners and network performance monitoring tools–and are manually tracking their assets through spreadsheets. Challenges with network discoveryĪs the number and types of devices coming online are rapidly growing, organizations are struggling to effectively discover and inventory their network. To be able to answer these questions, network and asset discovery tools must be able to get visibility into all devices on your network–without credentials and endpoint agents. Can an attacker reach a sensitive network from an untrusted network or asset?.Where are the devices impacted by a security risk located?.Which devices are outdated, orphaned, or unmanaged?.Organizations need a centralized, authoritative source to reference–particularly when trying to answer critical questions, like: On top of that, you need useful information that tells you what the device is–not just its MAC address or operating system. With new assets coming online all the time, like consumer IoT devices, it becomes harder to identify everything on your network. Network discovery helps you uncover the unknowns and gives you full visibility into your environment through your asset inventory. As a result of discovery, you can create an asset inventory to feed into systems–like CMDBs, SIEMs, ITAMs, ITSMs, and IPAMs–for a comprehensive view of your network. The process of auditing, cataloging, and tracking assets is essential for configuration management, capacity planning, and risk reduction programs. Network discovery is the process of identifying and detailing every IT, OT, and IoT device connected to your network physically, virtually, remotely, or in the cloud.

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