Port Scan Monitor

The Port Scan monitor tests an IP address for Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port state, which determines the reliability of data transmission. It is also an important resource for identifying network and connectivity problems. Users utilize port scanners to uncover potential entry points for intrusion and determine the types of devices operating on the network, such as firewalls, proxy servers, or VPN servers.

How to Implement Port Scan Monitoring with NinjaOne?

Port scan monitoring involves detecting and analyzing attempts to probe your network for open ports and vulnerabilities. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to implement the port scan monitor.

How to setup a port scan monitor.

1. To add a new device, click the plus sign (+) in the top right corner of the console, then select ‘Device’ from the dropdown menu. (See below screenshot for reference.)

To add a new device, click the plus sign (+) in the top right corner of the console, then select 'Device' from the dropdown menu.

2. Select the Cloud Monitor. (See below screenshot for reference.)

Select the Cloud Monitor.

3. Select the desired organization and location for your new cloud monitor. Choose ‘Port scan’ as the monitor type, then provide a descriptive display name and fill in any additional required information, such as frequency, timeout, and server settings.

4. Click ‘Next’ to proceed with the setup.

5. Customize your port scan monitor by specifying any conditions you wish to monitor.
Now with this setup, you will select the frequency, timeout and the IP address/Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the device you want to monitor, and then add the ports you want to monitor.
Important Note: The maximum number of ports that can be scanned when using a hostname is 16. There is no limitation when using an IP address.

There are two different types of conditions available for Port Scan monitors:

  • State allows you to monitor for whether the port can accept incoming connections.

Important Note: NInjaOne uses a 5-second timeout per port that is set up to be scanned. So, if NinjaOne is able to connect to the port but does not get a basic network response within 5 seconds per port, then the monitor will end up with the “Not Responding” status overall.

  • Response Time allows you to monitor the time it takes (in milliseconds) for the port-status query to return a response a specified number of times.

After setting up a Port Scan cloud monitor, viewing it will show you a table of the data points that have been recorded — the table includes the Time, Result, DNS Resolution, and Port Status. (See the screenshot below for reference)

After setting up a Port Scan cloud monitor, viewing it will show you a table of the data points that have been recorded — the table includes the Time, Result, DNS Resolution, and Port Status.

The Benefits of using NinjaOne for Port Scan Monitoring

The Port Scan Monitor of NinjaOne evaluates the TCP port status of an IP address to assess data transmission efficiency. It is an essential resource for network administrators and security experts. It identifies new service inquiries and sends them to the correct destination. Although port scanning has many advantages, port scan monitors are essential for network security as they can help identify potential threats and protect against unauthorized access.

 

 

FAQ

A port scan monitor is a tool used to discover open doors or weak points in a network. Port scanning involves sending probes to specific ports on a target system to determine which services are running and identify potential vulnerabilities. 
 

Nmap is one of the most popular open-source port scanning tools available. Nmap provides many port scanning techniques for different scenarios.

Ping scanners are a basic form of network surveillance. They help determine if a device is online by sending ICMP echo requests. While ping scans aren’t technically port scans, they’re often the first step in network exploration. 

TCP half-open scans are a common technique for identifying open ports on a target system. They work by sending SYN packets and listening for responses. The target system will respond with a SYN-ACK packet if a port is open. However, unlike a full TCP handshake, a TCP half-open scan doesn’t send the final ACK, making it difficult to detect. 

TCP connect scans are a type of port scanning that establishes a full TCP connection with the target system. Unlike half-open scans, they send an additional packet, which can increase network traffic and detection risk. However, they require fewer privileges to run compared to half-open scans. 

UDP scans are slower than TCP scans but can be used to target specific services. While less common, UDP scans can be valuable for identifying open UDP ports and potential vulnerabilities. By sending targeted requests, you can determine if specific services are running on a system. 

Port scanning can be illegal under certain circumstances. While it’s a common practice for network administrators to scan their own networks, scanning unauthorized systems without permission can be considered a violation of computer crime laws. 

Yes, you should enable port scan detection. Detecting port scans is essential for maintaining network security by preventing unauthorized access and potential attacks. Detection of port scanning can recognize efforts to search your network for weaknesses before they are taken advantage of by intruders.

By identifying port scans, you can trigger a plan for responding to security incidents to reduce the possibility of a breach. Certain security protocols and guidelines mandate the detection of port scans as a crucial security measure. It enables you to detect and fix possible security vulnerabilities before they are taken advantage of.

Proper configuration of port scan detection is crucial for reaping security advantages without encountering false positives and performance problems. 

Port scanning is a technique used to identify open ports on a network. While it’s a valuable tool for network administrators, it should be used responsibly and with proper authorization. 

Here’s a basic outline of how to perform a port scan: 

  1. Choose a port scanning tool: There are numerous tools available, both open-source and commercial. Popular options include Nmap, Nessus, and Zenmap.
  2. Specify the target: Determine the IP address or hostname of the system you want to scan.
  3. Select scan type: Choose a scan method (e.g., SYN scan, TCP connect scan, UDP scan).
  4. Configure options: Specify additional options like port ranges, scan intensity, and timeout settings.
  5. Run the scan: Execute the scan using your chosen tool.
  6. Analyze results: Review the scan results to identify open ports, services, and potential vulnerabilities.

IP scanners and port scanners are both used for network reconnaissance, but they serve different purposes. An IP Scanner discovers devices on a network through the transmission of ICMP echo requests (pings). Concentrates on identifying active devices and their corresponding IP addresses. It offers a compilation of active hosts on the network. 

While a port scanner is a tool for scanning ports, it detects which ports are open on a particular device. Concentrates on identifying the services that are operational on a specific system. And offers a compilation of open ports and the services connected to them. 

In essence, an IP scanner helps you find the devices on your network, while a port scanner helps you understand what those devices are doing. 

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