Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. To counter cybercriminals and protect data, cybersecurity professionals need to master an arsenal of tools. Discover in this article the 5 essential applications that will make you a cybersecurity ace.
1. Wireshark: the essential application for analyzing network traffic
Wireshark is the reference tool for in-depth analysis of what’s happening on your network. This protocol analyzer lets you capture and inspect traffic in real time.
Its many features make it a powerful instrument for detecting anomalies, identifying cyber-attacks and resolving network performance problems. Wireshark is open source and available on Windows, Linux and macOS.
2. Metasploit: test your defenses before hackers attack
Metasploit is the most popular penetration testing framework among cybersecurity professionals. It lets you simulate sophisticated attacks to test your infrastructure’s defenses.
With its thousands of exploits and payloads, you can identify vulnerabilities in your systems before they are exploited by malicious hackers. Metasploit is indispensable for applying the principles of security by design.
3. Splunk: the SIEM solution for tracking threats in real time
Splunk is the SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solution most widely used by SOCs (Security Operations Centers). It collects and correlates logs and telemetry data from your infrastructure in real time.
With its powerful search, visualization and alerting functions, Splunk helps you to quickly detect and respond to security incidents. This tool is essential for monitoring and investigation.
4. OpenVAS: audit the security of your assets before hackers do
OpenVAS is one of the most comprehensive vulnerability scanners on the market. Open source, it benefits from contributions from the community. OpenVAS thoroughly tests the security of your networks, servers, IoT, webapps and more.
Its detailed reports help you identify vulnerabilities that need to be corrected as a matter of priority, before they are exploited in a cyber-attack. Regularly auditing the security of your assets is essential to strengthen your defensive posture.
5. OWASP ZAP: automate your web application security tests
ZAP is the most popular web application security testing tool. Easy to use, ZAP helps you to quickly find common vulnerabilities such as SQL injections, XSS, CSRF and more.
Its passive mode lets you test apps in production without impacting users. ZAP greatly accelerates vulnerability detection and improves the security of your web and API developments.
These 5 applications are indispensable companions for any cybersecurity expert. They cover the main use cases: network analysis, penetration testing, monitoring, security auditing and application security. What are your favorite cybersecurity applications? Share your recommendations in comments!
