Using a good antivirus program and raising employee awareness of phishing risks is essential for businesses. But to counter modern cyberattacks and protect IT assets, it’s necessary to go further. While software solutions exist for every type of threat, choosing the right one can be complex. Here are 9 of the best cybersecurity tools to protect your IT system in 2024.
1 – Nmap: the best port scanner on the market
Nmap (Network Mapper) is a cybersecurity tool used to scan ports . It’s used to discover the hosts and services present on a given network. Nmap then compiles this information to create a comprehensive network map. This mapper detects vulnerabilities in hosts and systems. Free and open-source, Nmap is a network mapping tool highly valued by IT professionals.
2 – Metasploit: an essential cybersecurity tool for penetration testing
Metasploit is a framework used for penetration testing . This cybersecurity tool evaluates analyzed systems using various known vulnerabilities. Metasploit is thus used to actively search for computer security flaws.
This framework is particularly useful for developing signatures for IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems). Very powerful and boasting a large community, Metasploit is, however, rather difficult to use. This penetration testing tool has a free and open-source version, as well as a commercial version.
3 – Nessus: the benchmark for vulnerability scanners
Nessus is a vulnerability scanner . Originally, it was a tool dedicated to network security. But today, Nessus can detect vulnerabilities in most IT assets. This scanner is therefore useful for finding flaws in operating systems, web applications, software, and cloud infrastructures.
Nessus also allows for compliance audits and the discovery of hosts on a network. OpenVAS is a free and open-source version of this scanner.
4 – Wireshark: a network protocol analyzer
Wireshark analyzes data packets sent and received within a network. This cross-platform cybersecurity software is very useful for detecting anomalies in network protocols. Free and open-source, Wireshark allows you to view the analyzed data in real time. Its comprehensive graphical interface is perfect for complex analyses. For more limited packet capture, the command-line interface tcpdump offers a useful alternative.
5 – Snort: an effective intrusion detection tool
Snort is both an intrusion detection system (IDS) and an intrusion prevention system (IPS). Like Wireshark, it falls into the category of tools used for monitoring network traffic. But while Wireshark is used for in-depth analysis, Snort allows for a rapid response in the event of an attack.
It relies on a rules-based system that allows it to alert network administrators when it detects malicious packets. Like Wireshark, Snort is a free and open-source cybersecurity tool.
6 – Burp Suite: the attack tool for auditing applications
Burp Suite is an essential tool for businesses that employ offensive cybersecurity techniques. It’s a web application security auditing software . Burp allows for manual or automated testing. It performs attacks to test, find, and exploit vulnerabilities.
Burp Suite is very useful for improving application protection against XSS vulnerabilities and SQL injections. Available in free and paid versions, this software is used by penetration testers, as well as developers and DevOps engineers.
7 – Aircrack-ng: the security solution for wireless networks
Aircrack-ng is a suite of cybersecurity tools designed to audit Wi-Fi networks . Used via a command-line tool, its specialty is cracking WEP and WPA security keys. This IT security software also includes other attack, testing, and monitoring features.
While Aircrack-ng is very comprehensive for assessing network risk levels , it is geared towards advanced users. A company with less expertise in IT security might prefer the wifite2 tool.
8 – Splunk: the machine data analytics platform
Splunk is a cybersecurity software specializing in the collection and analysis of machine data . It presents itself as a platform that aggregates logs from numerous sources, including APIs, servers, websites, applications, and mobile devices. Through machine learning, Splunk transforms machine data into insights that can be used to improve cybersecurity and performance.
9 – Acunetix: the vulnerability scanner for websites and applications
Acunetix is a tool for detecting and managing vulnerabilities in websites and web applications . It allows you to prioritize the vulnerabilities found, in order to focus threat remediation efforts. Acunetix offers easy-to-implement integrations, allowing a development team to leverage its analyses throughout the CI/CD pipeline.
This cybersecurity tool is therefore perfectly suited to a DevSecOps , or even SecDevOps, approach. Acunetix has a user-friendly interface accessible via a simple web browser. Thanks to its API, this scanner can be connected to other cybersecurity software.
