How does Security Center handle asset discovery?

Security Center excels in asset discovery by employing a multi-faceted approach that includes active scans, passive network monitoring, and integration with external asset databases.

Active scans involve systematically probing the network to identify devices, open ports, services running on those ports, and vulnerabilities associated with those devices. This proactive method helps maintain an up-to-date inventory of assets and their security postures.

Passive network monitoring, on the other hand, involves observing network traffic without actively querying devices. By analyzing the data packets traversing the network, Security Center can detect assets that might not respond to direct scans, including those that are configured to be less visible or are temporarily offline. This method enhances asset visibility and can reveal devices that would otherwise remain unnoticed.

Additionally, integration with external asset databases allows Security Center to enrich its findings with information from other trusted sources. This can include details on asset ownership, types, configurations, and risk ratings, which enables more effective prioritization of security measures.

Together, these techniques provide a comprehensive and dynamic understanding of an organization’s asset landscape, ensuring that all devices are accounted for and appropriately monitored for potential vulnerabilities.