Network discovery is the process of discovering devices within a network, facilitating communication and resource sharing. It aids in mapping the network, managing device inventories, enforcing access policies, and understanding service context—thus enhancing overall network control and efficiency.
Networks are evolving. As organizations and their capabilities continue to expand, so do the number of interconnected systems and devices that support them. This often leads to complex, hybrid IT environments, incorporating everything from traditional wired and wireless networks to virtual networks and authorized (and unauthorized) employee devices. This may be further compounded by the growing popularity of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions and remote and hybrid workforces.
To maintain an accurate inventory of every end point and how they interact, organizations rely on network discovery.
Network discovery provides the opportunity to create network maps that improve visibility into the way that hardware is connected in an enterprise’s network. A kind of network discovery known as horizontal discovery scans your network, finds computers and devices, and then populates the CMDB with any discovered infrastructure and applications, which are also known as Configuration Items (CI).
Horizontal discovery creates direct relationships between CIs, such as a runs on relationship between an application CI and the actual computer CI that it runs on. Horizontal discovery is not aware of business services and does not create relationships between CIs based on the business service they are in. Network discovery software helps IT teams of all sizes manage an influx of IT resources that connect to the network, and have better control over them.
While traditional on-premises and cloud networks may incorporate a range of devices and applications, hybrid network solutions can be even more complex. Organizations that rely on combinations of virtual, wired, wireless, and cloud networks create a unique network topography in which identifying the root causes of issues can become extremely difficult. Network discovery in hybrid deployments helps identify vital network connections, so IT teams can troubleshoot and resolve bottlenecks that might be negatively impacting organization operations.
There are three delivery protocols that IT teams use to find and track devices on the network: simple network management protocol (SNMP), link layer discovery protocol (LLDP), and internet control message protocol (ICMP):
SNMP is the internet standard protocol, making it an obvious choice for network management and monitoring. It allows IT teams to gather and organize data about devices on a network, including routers, switches, servers, printers, and more.
LLDP is a vendor-neutral protocol used for device discovery and identification within a network. Unlike SNMP, which focuses on gathering management data, LLDP primarily serves the purpose of transmitting device information between directly connected network devices.
ICMP is a fundamental network protocol used for diagnostic and control purposes within IP networks. It encompasses various message types, including echo request and echo reply messages commonly associated with the ping utility.
ICMP messages are utilized to verify the reachability of a device, measure network latency, and diagnose connectivity issues. For instance, the ping utility may send an ICMP echo request message to a target device, awaiting a reply that will confirm the device’s status. ICMP is integral to network troubleshooting, providing insights into network health and supporting IT teams in resolving connectivity problems.
Network discovery relies on the protocols mentioned above to map networks and create a clear picture of how every device and system interacts. This process generally includes the following steps:
Initiation
Network discovery is initiated by a management system or discovery tool, which sends out requests or probes across the network to identify connected devices. These requests may take the form of SNMP queries, LLDP packets, or ICMP echo requests.Device detection
Upon receiving discovery requests, devices within the network respond with relevant information about their identity, configuration, and capabilities. This information includes device type, IP address, MAC address, operating system, and network services running on the device.Topology mapping
As devices respond to discovery requests, the discovery tool compiles the collected information to create a comprehensive map of the network topology. This map illustrates the relationships between devices, such as physical connections, network segments, and hierarchical structures.Data analysis
Once the network topology is mapped, administrators analyze the collected data for insights into the network's composition, health, and performance.Continuous monitoring
Just as networks continually change, network discovery is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and updating to keep pace with the network environment. Discovery tools periodically rescan the network to detect new devices, update existing device information, and maintain an accurate inventory of network assets.
IT teams require visibility into their network to fulfill their respective duties—they may not be able to understand the relationship between devices and how they communicate with each other when network discovery is not in play. When networks experience downtime, network discovery provides response teams with relevant data, allowing them to more quickly identify and address the issue.
Hybrid networks, such as virtual, wired, and wireless networks can complicate network topology and make it difficult for IT teams to identify any root causes when an incident or issue occurs. And as digital operations continue to increase in scale, networks are also beginning to change in terms of layout. Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, shadow IT, and increased dependency on smart technology mean that employees are adding personal devices to the workplace. As such, monitoring basic health metrics is no longer a usable baseline—businesses must be able to use network discovery tools to have visibility of all internal activity.
Cybersecurity is also aided by network discovery, as invalid IP addresses can be identified as a sign of a malicious device that is carrying malware. IT and Security teams may use network discovery to run regular scans to identify any threats that might be sitting quietly on a network, poised for attack.
Network discovery can further improve security by helping teams identify open ports on connected devices and inform decisions regarding which ports do and do not need to be open for business operations to run effectively.
To be effective, network discovery needs to be capable of identifying and mapping essentially every endpoint on the network. Common types of devices that can be discovered using network discovery tools include:
Computers and servers
Desktops, laptops, workstations, and server hardware running various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix.
Network devices
Routers, switches, firewalls, access points, and other networking equipment responsible for routing, switching, and securing network traffic.
Printers and multifunction devices
Network printers, scanners, and multi-function devices capable of printing, scanning, copying, and faxing documents over the network.
IP-enabled devices
Phones, cameras, sensors, and other IoT devices equipped with network connectivity for data transmission and communication.
Virtual machines and hypervisors
Virtualized environments hosting virtual machines (VMs) and hypervisors such as VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine).
Storage devices
Network-attached storage (NAS) devices, storage area network (SAN) devices, and other storage appliances providing centralized data storage and access.
Workstation and server applications
Software applications and services running on computers and servers, including databases, web servers, email servers, file servers, and enterprise applications.
Infrastructure components
Power distribution units (PDUs), environmental sensors, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, and more.
Simply put, network discovery is important because it allows organizations to better manage and account for the digital systems they rely on. More specifically, the following are among the top benefits of network discovery:
Network discovery provides a detailed map of digital infrastructure, ensuring that organizations have the most up-to-date information about every change happening in the network. This comprehensive visibility enables administrators to make informed decisions regarding network configuration, resource allocation, and strategic planning, enhancing overall network performance and resilience.
By recognizing all connected devices and highlighting any unauthorized or suspicious activities, network discovery can be an invaluable security tool. Organizations have a clear, up-to-date picture of their networks and can promptly detect and mitigate threats as they arise.
IT teams can implement network discovery to quickly identify the root causes of network problems, minimizing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency. By accurately mapping the network topology and identifying device relationships, administrators can diagnose issues more effectively, leading to faster resolution and reduced productivity impact.
By leveraging network discovery, organizations can allocate resources more effectively, identify bottlenecks, and pinpoint areas that may need to be improved. Optimizing network resources leads to enhanced operational efficiency, reduced latency, and improved user experience, ultimately driving productivity.
Every resource on a network carries with it a cost. Network discovery helps organizations reduce many of these costs by avoiding unnecessary hardware purchases and optimizing the existing infrastructure. Identifying underutilized resources, eliminating redundancy, and optimizing network configurations empowers organizations to reduce expenses while maintaining performance and reliability.
Businesses grow, but they also change. Network discovery plays a crucial role in digital transformation initiatives by enabling organizations to seamlessly integrate new technologies into digital ecosystems and scale to meet demand. By providing insights into network capacity, performance trends, resource utilization, and more, network discovery promotes agile decision-making and ensures that organizations can adapt and evolve in response to evolving business requirements.
Despite the many clear advantages, network discovery also presents several challenges. Organizations may need to address these issues before they can begin to enjoy the full benefits of network discovery. In terms of potential obstacles to success, consider the following:
In heterogeneous network environments comprising diverse hardware, operating systems, and network configurations, conducting comprehensive network discovery can be challenging. Different devices may support varying discovery protocols or have proprietary management interfaces, complicating the discovery process.
Implementing a unified network discovery solution capable of supporting multiple protocols and device types can counter this issue. Leveraging flexible discovery mechanisms and protocols such as SNMP, LLDP, and ICMP, organizations can achieve comprehensive visibility even when the networks themselves are not consistent.
As networks scale in size and complexity to accommodate growing infrastructure and user demands, network discovery processes can impose significant performance overhead and strain network resources. Continuous scanning and probing activities may lead to network congestion, latency issues, and service disruptions.
Employing optimized discovery strategies such as scheduled scanning, incremental updates, and distributed discovery agents can minimize the impact on network performance.
Network discovery can be an effective tool for identifying potential threats, but it may pose some security risk itself. Discovery activities inherently involve probing and gathering information about connected devices, which can raise some concerns about security vulnerabilities and privacy risks. Unauthorized access to sensitive network data, exposure of device configurations, and inadvertent disclosure of proprietary information are all valid considerations.
Implementing strict access controls, strong data encryption, and network segmentation can mitigate the security risks associated with network discovery, safeguarding network integrity and protecting against unauthorized access or data breaches.
An agent-based discovery places an “agent” on each target system for discovery that runs a piece of code on the target, “calls home” to a central server, and reports back what it found. Agents are hosted locally and are capable of gathering and storing performance and availability metrics from servers, computers, virtual machines, operating systems, and many network devices and applications. While agents are often deployed manually (either by physically installing them on each target machine or by remote installation), some may be installed using mass deployment technologies.
Agentless network discovery does not require a client installed at the end point to gather information about the asset. It gathers all data remotely from a central tool run on a server. Agentless discovery eliminates the need for time-consuming manual deployment, but because they do not reside on the machines themselves, they may be more limited in terms of what kind of data they have access to. Agentless monitors depend heavily on available network resources, and may be affected by network issues, such as latency, packet loss, or poor connections.
Network discovery software utilizes processes to help teams understand their network layout. Discovery protocols that are applied can collect information about virtual computers and networks, software on a network, hardware on a network, and the logical and physical relationship between network assets.
The tool works by automatically gathering data using IP scans, ping sweeps, and polling devices with SNMP monitoring, which works more rapidly and effectively than manual gathering.
Network discovery plays a vital role in modern IT operations, providing organizations with the visibility and control needed to effectively manage their network infrastructure. However, managing network discovery processes can be challenging, especially in large and dynamic IT environments. ServiceNow IT Operations Management (ITOM) provides the solution. ServiceNow ITOM offers a comprehensive suite of applications designed to streamline and automate many of your IT operations processes, including network discovery.
ITOM gives your business the power to leverage advanced capabilities such as automated discovery, configuration management, event management, and orchestration to gain deep insights into your network infrastructure. ServiceNow Discovery automatically identifies and maps IT assets, while Event Management correlates and prioritizes events to enable faster incident resolution. Additionally, ServiceNow Orchestration automates IT workflows, and ServiceNow Cloud Management provides capabilities for managing cloud resources.
Simplify and optimize your approach to network discovery. Demo ITOM today, and experience the benefits of complete network visibility.