Network discovery
Network discovery
Network discovery definition
Network discovery is the process of identifying and finding devices, resources, or services within a computer network. Network discovery helps network admins understand the network’s layout, manage connected devices and solve issues relating to connectivity.
Network discovery also has a slightly different meaning, which is the ability of network devices and computers to find and connect to each other.
See also: network security architecture
How network discovery works
- A network scanning or management tool (e.g., Nmap) scans the network to find active devices, resources, or services.
- Each device the tool finds is identified by its unique attributes (such as IP address or hostname).
- Information about each device, such as its operating system or open ports, is collected and logged.
- The discovered devices and their relationships are mapped out to understand the network’s layout (e.g., a particular server may be connected to multiple devices within the network).
- The network admins see the results of the scan in a readable format, allowing them to analyze the data and use it for network management.
Network discovery and security
- Network discovery helps find security problems in devices to prevent breaches.
- By monitoring network changes, network discovery can help warn admins about potential security threats.
- Network discovery also plays a role in keeping the inventory of the network up to date.
- When security incidents happen, network discovery data can help identify affected devices and allow companies to respond quickly.