1. Introduction

Introduction to GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner

GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner (N.S.S.) is a security scanning, network auditing and patch deployment tool which enables you to scan and protect your network by:

•	Identifying system and network weaknesses using a state of the art vulnerability check database based on OVAL and SANS Top 20 vulnerability database.

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Auditing of all hardware and software aspects of system installations on your network allowing you to create a detailed inventory of assets present on your IT infrastructure. This goes as far as enumerating installed applications as well as USB devices connected on your network. Further to this, GFI LANguard N.S.S. also checks whether your anti-virus and anti-spyware protection is enabled by analyzing the configuration settings of such software.

•	Enabling you to automatically download and remotely install service packs and patches for Microsoft operating systems and third party products.

How is this manual structured

This manual is logically structured to assist you to in getting GFI LANguard N.S.S. up and running in the shortest time possible:

•	Chapters 1 and 2 provide you with an introduction to GFI LANguard N.S.S. and overview of how to install GFI LANguard N.S.S. on your system.

•	Chapter 3 shows you how to navigate the management console.

•	Chapters 4 and 5 provide you with ‘Getting started’ information related to performing audits and analyzing security scan results.

•	Chapter 6 shows you how to save and load scan results of scans previously performed.

•	Chapter 7 demonstrates how to filter results using the results filter tab to display on screen reports.

NOTE: At this stage, you will have gained enough knowledge to run GFI LANguard N.S.S. on default settings.

•	Chapter 8 deals with how you can customize GFI LANguard N.S.S. to suit your particular network needs.

•	Chapter 9 is exclusively dedicated to scanning profiles and their customization. You will also learn how to create new scanning profiles to scan for specific issues.

•	Chapter 10 deals with GFI LANguard N.S.S. program updates, the configuration of such updates and how to turn them on and off.

•	Chapters 11 and 12 enable you to discover how to deploy Microsoft updates, service packs and third party software. You will also discover how to roll back (uninstall) Microsoft updates.

•	Chapter 13 will enable you to learn how to use GFI LANguard N.S.S. to generate a results comparison report between scans held in different periods of time.

•	Chapter 14 demonstrates the functionality of GFI LANguard N.S.S.’ status monitor and the features that are included within. It assists you in interpreting the various tabs that are included in the status monitor.

•	Chapter 15 shows you how to use the various tools that are implemented within GFI LANguard N.S.S. Amongst others these include DNS Lookup, Traceroute and enumeration of users and computers.

•	Chapters 16 and 17 deals with advanced features related to the use of GFI LANguard N.S.S. via command-line and how to add custom vulnerabilities using scripts.

•	Chapter 18 engages any miscellaneous issues that could not be included in other sections of the manual.

•	Chapter 19 is a troubleshooting guide that assists you in resolving any issues you might encounter during the use of this product.