Network scanners, sometimes called network device scanners, automate the process of keeping records of all the IT or network assets and thus provide the visibility network administrators need to manage complex networks, all while freeing them to dedicate their time to more important tasks than manual record-keeping.
When network administrators can fully focus on growth and troubleshooting, the whole company benefits. This is especially true today because even small companies with just a couple of employees often manage hundreds of IT and network assets. Companies can plan for the future and make wise financial and operational decisions only when they know exactly which assets they have and what their status is.
“Companies can plan for the future and make wise financial and operational decisions only when they know exactly which assets they have and what their status is.”
Network scanners additionally eliminate human error, which is inevitable when dealing with hundreds of different devices on a single network, let alone multiple networks. Even a few missing devices with invalid software licenses can spell a disaster during a comprehensive audit, and only capable network scanners with software license management functionality can easily determine if you have the right number of licenses for installed software.
Some network scanners can create graphical representations of networks, which can be extremely helpful when communicating with stakeholders or figuring out the most optimal path for growth. If it wasn’t for network scanners, network administrators would have to manually map out networks using Microsoft Visio and other diagramming and vector graphics applications. Needless to say, manual network mapping is a very time-consuming task that’s best avoided entirely.
In the previous chapter, we’ve already mentioned some things that you can expect a good network scanner to do, but there’s more to choosing a network scanner than features.
Network scanners are no longer optional, and their importance will only grow as network complexity increases. The sooner a company realizes that it should equip its IT staff with a capable network scanner, the better off it will be in the long run. There are many options when it comes to network scanners, including those described in this article.
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