Protecting and Maintaining Your Cloud

The free-source program Nmap, short for Network Mapper, is used mostly for port scanning, vulnerability assessment, and locating open ports, services, and other security threats. It is also useful for network exploration and security audits.

Features, Use Cases, and Applications

1. Port scanning: Locates open ports on target hosts to look for vulnerabilities and service insights. To examine vulnerabilities, Service Version Detection ascertains the service versions that are operating on open ports.
2. OS Detection: Determines the operating system of target hosts, improving evaluation accuracy.
3. Scriptable Interaction: Enables task automation through scripting using the Nmap Scripting Engine.
4. Stealth Scanning: Reduces interference with the network and stays hidden while being evaluated.
5. Penetration testing: This technique mimics attacks and locates points of access for malevolent parties.
6. Network inventory management facilitates asset tracking and management.
   Compliance auditing: For regulatory compliance, it finds security flaws in network infrastructure.

Technical Specifications

Nmap is a command-line program that can be integrated with other security products and frameworks and performs scans using raw IP packets. It offers flexibility and customisation.

Integration and Compatibility

1. Works with Wireshark, Nessus, and Metasploit.
2. IPv6, UDP, and TCP/IP compatibility.
3. Offers a variety of output formats for analysis and reporting.

Reference

https://nmap.org/