Overview of Audit Methods
Auditing computers
The following diagram introduces the methods that you can use to audit computers with Network Inventory and helps you choose the methods that will suit your environment best. You can use all these methods for auditing Windows, Linux, and Mac computers.
NOTE: For audit methods diagram, see Administration Guide: Overview of Audit Methods.
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The Direct Network Scan is a method of auditing LAN computers and network devices at your request or on a regular basis, without the need to deploy audit agents onto the client side. Instead, audit agents in the built-in mode can audit multiple networked computers running Windows, Linux, or Mac OS simultaneously for up-to-the-minute audit snapshots.
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The Network Folder Audit is a method of LAN audit, based on using audit agents in the standalone mode. Using this method you can audit networked computers on a regular basis. It involves two steps: deployment of the Inventory Analyzer package to a centralized location, accessible by all networked computers (i.e. a network shared folder), and automation the Inventory Analyzer using domain logon scripts or scheduled tasks. Audit snapshots are stored in an intermediary repository on the same network share until they are processed by the Automation Server and imported into the database. The Automation Server automatically reflects changes of the audit configuration made in the configurations of its deployed audit agents using the Network Inventory application.
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The Remote Audit is a method of WAN audit, based on the deployment of standalone audit agents to a remote network. With this method, you can regularly audit offsite computers and remote networks that have no direct connection to the local network.
The Remote Audit method offers two deployment scenarios for audit agents:
- Install the audit agent to every remote computer.
- Deploy the Inventory Analyzer package to a centralized location in the remote network and automate the audit agent using domain logon scripts or scheduled tasks.
Depending on the way how audit snapshots are delivered to Network Inventory, the Remote Audit method comes in two modes: FTP delivery and e-mail delivery.
When using this audit method, there is no direct link between the Automation Server and deployed audit agents; this is why any configuration changes or updated versions of the audit agents have to be manually re-deployed.
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The Portable Audit is a method of auditing computers on locked-down networks and non-networked computers, based on using audit agents in the standalone mode. Typically, the Inventory Analyzer package is deployed to a flash drive, which is used to audit individual computers manually. Audit snapshots are stored on the same flash drive and then uploaded into the database.
Auditing Chromebooks
Network Inventory offers you the Google Directory Audit to collect inventory information on Chromebooks in your network environment. This method helps you audit Chromebooks at your request or on a regular basis. When using the Google Directory Audit, there is no direct link between the Automation Server and Google Chromebooks. All audit data is provided by the Google Admin Console and loaded by the Automation Server to the database which requires a G Suite account and the Admin SDK enabled.
Auditing Network Devices
Network Inventory audit network devices using the Direct Network Scan. This method enables collecting inventory information about networked printers, scanners, hubs, routers and other devices via SNMP.