8. Tools Used for Assessments and Evaluations
Assessments are not all about paperwork, policy, and documentation. Numerous tools can be used to help analyze, assess, and test the network’s security infrastructure. Good security will require that funds be spent, but a multitude of excellent open source software products are available and some of them may just suit your needs. Therefore, the goal here is to introduce you to a variety of commercial and open source tools and offer you a high-level overview. These tools have also been divided into categories, because after all, nothing is used in a vacuum.
Note
If you want to know more, the vendor’s website is always a good place to start. If you are looking for a real in-depth examination, there are books that have been written about many of these tools. Two good choices are
Hacking Exposed (ISBN: 0072260815)
Anti-Hacker Tool Kit (ISBN: 0072230207)