Network security tools aim to protect devices, technologies, and procedures from cyberattacks, identity theft, and illegal data access.

Unauthorized access to data and improper use of the company network are prevented by network security. It comprises software and hardware innovations intended to safeguard data and network security.

Network security technologies are essential for protecting your company’s network from various threats that could harm both the system and the network. Network monitoring and data breach protection are made easier by it.

The following are some advantages of network security tools:

• By keeping you in compliance with rules and preventing breaches, network security products will reduce the financial and business effect of any violation.
• Network security offers several degrees of protection to expand your company’s reach and give your staff a better working environment.
• It ensures the security of any private data and information transferred over the network.
• Let’s now examine the top ten tools for network security
  
  Also Read:Top 10 penetration testing tools in 2024 for more information.

Top 10 Network Security Tools:

1. Wireshark

Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer that aids businesses in tracking, managing, and analyzing network traffic even in the smallest details, as well as capturing real-time data.

The TCP session recreated streams can be viewed by users. Analyzing traffic that comes in and goes out helps in solving network problems.

Feature

• Thorough examination of hundreds of protocols
• Record data in real time and perform offline analysis.
• Numerous operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and others, can run it.

Advantage

supports a variety of operating systems, including Linux and Windows.
Integrates with third-party apps with ease.

Drawbacks

steep learning curve.
Lack of support and difficulty reading encrypted network traffic.

2. Nexpose

Nexpose is a network security program that lowers network risks and gives real-time information on vulnerabilities. Furthermore, Nexpose enables users to assign a risk score to vulnerabilities found, allowing them to be ranked according to security levels.

Nexpose facilitates real-time network scanning and vulnerability detection for IT teams. Additionally, it constantly updates and adjusts to new data and software threats.

Features

• Nexpose offers network traffic in real time.
• It gives IT teams a risk score and assists them in ranking risks according to security levels.
• It displays the IT staff.

Advantage

Simple to use
thorough examination of network vulnerabilities.

Drawbacks

For Linux devices, domain-based authentication is not available.
Insufficient client service

3. Splunk

Splunk is employed to keep an eye on network security. It offers both historical data searches and real-time data analysis. This cloud-based technology offers insights for hybrid cloud data analytics at the petabyte scale. The search feature of Splunk makes application monitoring simple and intuitive.

It has a user interface for gathering, indexing, and compiling data as well as for producing dashboards, graphs, reports, and alerts instantly.

Features

• Splunk maps alerts to cybersecurity frameworks, assigns risk to persons and systems, and initiates alerts when the risk is above a certain threshold.
  With integrated threat intelligence, it speeds up investigations and aids in alert prioritization.

Advantage

Data indexing is simple.
Convenient to use drawbacks.

Drawbacks

steep learning curve.

4. Nagios

Nagios is a tool for network security that aids in host, system, and network monitoring. Real-time warnings are sent by it. You have the option to choose which particular alerts you want to get.

Network resources such as HTTP, NNTP, ICMP, POP3, and SMTP can be tracked by it. The utility is free.

Feature

• System metrics, network protocols, application services, servers, and network infrastructure are among the elements of IT infrastructure that Nagios assists in monitoring.
• It notifies the IT administrator of significant occurrences and delivers alarms when an illegal network is found.
• For later inspection, it offers reports that display the history of notifications, events, and alert responses.

Advantage

Excellent real-time monitoring tool.
Easy to use.

Drawbacks

Data monitoring is easily trackable.
Reporting capabilities are limited.
While the data is being monitored, the system slows down.

5. Nessus Professional

Nessus Professional is a network security program that can identify and properly handle vulnerabilities such as software flaws and general security issues in IT devices and software applications.

Users have access to a wide range of security plug-ins, can create their own, and can scan networks and individual computers.

Features

• It allows reports to be customized by vulnerability.
• Notifies the recipient via email of the scan’s findings
• It assists in fulfilling corporate, governmental, and regulatory obligations.
• It protects your company from cybersecurity risks by scanning cloud apps.

Advantage

It provides liberty for creating unique solutions.
All common network devices, including servers, endpoints, and network devices, are covered by the Nessus VA scan.
Offer plug-ins for a variety of vulnerabilities.

Drawbacks

When scanning a large scope, the software becomes slower.
Poor client service

6. Metasploit

Metasploit is a piece of security software that includes a number of tools for executing harmful testing. IT workers utilize this tool to accomplish security objectives such as identifying system vulnerabilities, enhancing computer system security, developing cyber defense tactics, and keeping up-to-date security assessments.

Web-based applications, servers, networks, and other security systems can all be examined using the penetration testing tools.

It enables the company to conduct security evaluations, strengthen its network defenses generally, and increase their responsiveness.

Feature

The tools are employed to exploit flaws in the system.
Codes or information can be converted using module encoders, and Metasploit enables a secure way out of the target system.

Advantage

Beneficial for discovering and comprehending system vulnerabilities.
Great assistance with penetration testing
useful for identifying and understanding system vulnerabilities; all penetration testing tools are provided without charge.

Drawbacks

Very useful with penetration testing.
Helpful in recognizing and understanding system vulnerabilities.

7. Snort

Cisco created the open-source Snort Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS). In order to identify and stop harmful activities such as port scans, buffer overflows, DoS attacks, and more, it continuously monitors network traffic. Snort analyzes packets using a rule-based framework to block threats or issue alerts.

Feature

Log correlation, incident management, and visualization are not integrated into a Full SIE.
Command-line only by default; third-party dashboards like Snorby are needed.
For active protection, reactive, not preventive, measures alone must be used in conjunction with firewalls or intrusion prevention systems.

Advantage

Free and Open Source: Perfect for any budget, there is no expense.
Real-Time Threat Detection: Keeps an eye on questionable activities and instantly warns users.
Customizable Rules: These can be readily modified to identify certain network ris

Drawback

Log correlation, incident management, and visualization are not integrated into a Full SIE.
Command-line only by default; third-party dashboards like Snorby are needed.
For active protection, reactive, not preventive, measures alone must be used in conjunction with firewalls or intrusion prevention systems.

8. Openvas

OpenVAS, a free and open-source vulnerability scanner called OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System), is used to find security flaws in networks, apps, and systems. It is developed, and security experts frequently utilize OpenVAS for vulnerability management and evaluation.

Feature

Customizable: Allows for extremely thorough setup of scan policies and tasks.
Supported by a vibrant open-source community, it is community-driven.
Easily Integrates works nicely with security technologies such as SIEMs.

Advantage

Customizable: Adaptable setups for various scanning requirements.
Active Community Support: Strong support for troubleshooting from the community. Cross-Platform Efficiency
Compatible with multiple Linux distributions

Drawbacks

Complex Setup: For novices, installation and configuration can be challenging. Resource-intensive: System resources may be heavily taxed during extensive network scanning. Slower Performance.
It might not be as quick as other commercial options.

9. Netcat

A strong networking tool for reading from and writing to network connections utilizing TCP or UDP is called Netcat, which is sometimes shortened to nc. Because of its ease of use and versatility, it is frequently referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” of networking. System administrators, network engineers, and ethical hackers frequently utilize it for file transfers, port scanning, diagnostics, and even to create backdoors during penetration testing.

Advantage

Fast & Lightweight: It has a small footprint and carries out commands without overhead.
Versatile Use Cases: It manages a variety of network functions, including file transfers and port listening.
Command-Line Based: Provides strong automation and scripting features.

Drawbacks

Absence of integrated encryption support for safe (encrypted) communication.
Attackers often exploit it for nefarious purposes, such as backdoors.
Dedicated tools like Nmap are more powerful and covert than Basic Port Scanner.

10. Netmap

A free, open-source program called Nmap (Network Mapper) is used for vulnerability assessment, security audits, and network discovery. For locating devices, open ports, services, and security flaws on a network, it’s one of the most widely used tools among system administrators and ethical hackers.

Advantage

Highly customizable—provides a range of choices, script automation, and scan types.
Quick & Effective: Designed to swiftly scan big networks.
Cross-Platform: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Drawbacks

Curve of Learning knowledge and experience are necessary for advanced features and scripts.
Not a Complete vulnerability analysis ToolUnlike OpenVAS or Nessus, it detects possible problems but does not thoroughly examine vulnerabilities.
Might Overcome Goals aggressive scanning have the potential to overload trigger blocks or weaker systems.

Conclusion

To safeguard users, systems, and data from online attacks, network security is crucial. Organizations can efficiently identify, prevent, and respond to threats by using the appropriate tools and procedures, which will keep their digital environments safe and secure.