What is Network Discovery? A Guide With Use Cases
Discover what network discovery is, why it matters for IT teams, and how Alloy tools automate asset tracking and visibility.
What is network discovery? Definition
Network discovery is the automated process of scanning specified network segments to identify all connected computers and devices.
In very simplified terms, network discovery acts like a digital radar. It sweeps through a network to locate any device—whether it’s a company-issued laptop, a rogue smartphone, or a newly installed printer.
The purpose of network discovery is to establish a comprehensive, up-to-date asset inventory by automatically finding new or changed devices on the network.
Thanks to network discovery, the IT team can quickly see new devices on the network and restrict them for cybersecurity purposes. Moreover, after being discovered, authorised devices can be later audited and continually tracked throughout their lifecycle.
Tools for network discovery
Our products Alloy Discovery and AlloyScan offer solutions tailored to different deployment preferences—on-premises and cloud-based, respectively.
Alloy Discovery runs on-premises network discovery and operates within an organization’s local network.
AlloyScan offers a cloud-native approach to network discovery, suitable for organizations seeking a scalable and remote-friendly solution.
Network discovery in the IT asset management process
Network Discovery plays a foundational role in the IT asset management process. The network discovery phase initiates the asset lifecycle by identifying new or unmanaged devices that require auditing.
Here’s how Network Discovery fits into the broader network inventory process:
- Preparation phase: Network administrators determine which network ranges to scan and when.
- Network discovery phase: The discovery tool scans the defined network segments to detect active nodes. These nodes may include computers, servers, network devices, and other IP-enabled assets. This process identifies devices by querying them using standard protocols such as SNMP and WMI.
- Audit phase: This step collects detailed configuration, software, and hardware information to create or update asset records.
- Inventory and asset management phase: The audited data populates the central asset database. From here, assets can be monitored, categorized, managed through lifecycle stages, and included in reporting, change tracking, and compliance workflows.
- Ongoing maintenance: Scheduled discovery and audits help detect changes or additions to the network, ensuring the inventory remains current.
Why is network discovery important?
Generally speaking, network discovery captures infrastructure changes and ensures the IT asset database stays accurate and current.
A little more detail on why it’s important:
- Network discovery helps with automated asset detection. It removes the need for manual inventory creation.
For example, in organizations where the IT team relies on Excel spreadsheets to track hardware, they would have to manually visit each workstation, gather device specs like serial numbers, OS versions, and IP addresses, and then record that data by hand. With Alloy Software network inventory solution, this entire process is automated—new devices are detected during scheduled scans and added to the inventory instantly, eliminating time-consuming, error-prone manual logging. - It enables comprehensive visibility into the asset fleet. Thanks to the network discovery process, you get real-time awareness of all active devices on the network, including newly added or rogue, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed.
If an unauthorized personal laptop connects to the company Wi-Fi, the network inventory solution can flag it during a scan, alerting IT for follow-up before a potential security risk escalates. - Network discovery is a prerequisite for integrated asset intelligence.
Discovered devices are not only inventoried but also serve as a reliable data source for other IT functions—such as cybersecurity monitoring, infrastructure management, and compliance enforcement.
For example, once your network inventory solution identifies a new server, its specifications and status can be shared with vulnerability scanners, patch management tools, or CMDB platforms—ensuring that all systems operate with accurate, real-time asset data instead of relying on outdated Excel files or manual inputs. - It enables reporting and alerts processes. Discovered assets are incorporated into Alloy’s inventory systems, enabling alerts, audits, and reporting for IT decision-making.
If a server’s operating system is found to be out-of-date during an audit, Alloy Software network inventory solution can trigger a compliance alert and include it in a scheduled vulnerability report for IT administrators.
Network discovery vs. network monitoring
Although often mentioned together, network discovery and network monitoring serve very different purposes in IT infrastructure management.
Network discovery is the process of identifying and cataloging all devices connected to a network—such as computers, printers, switches, routers, and servers. Tools like Alloy Discovery and AlloyScan are designed for this task. They scan IP ranges, detect assets automatically, and collect detailed information about each device’s hardware, software, and configuration. This creates a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory that IT teams can use for asset management, security audits, and compliance tracking.
Network monitoring, on the other hand, focuses on tracking the performance and health of those devices after they’ve been discovered. Tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or PRTG Network Monitor watch over CPU load, memory usage, uptime, network traffic, and service availability. Their goal is to detect issues in real time—such as outages, bandwidth spikes, or hardware failures—and alert IT teams to take immediate action.
In short:
- Network discovery answers “What is on my network?”
- Network monitoring answers “Is it working properly?”
Stay connected
Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest product insights, feature previews, and more exclusive updates.
Network discovery in real life: common use cases
Real-world organizations use network discovery to address practical challenges across IT asset visibility, control, and efficiency.
Here are key use cases of our clients to use network discovery:
Replacing manual spreadsheets
Several clients used Excel to track devices, licenses, and asset locations, before they started using Alloy’s software. Network discovery automates this process, eliminating the need to manually gather specs or chase down missing devices.
Reclaiming control over distributed devices
Businesses with operations across multiple regions often report losing visibility over devices that frequently change hands. With network discovery and auditing, they can now track who has each device, where it is, and its current condition.
Supporting lean IT teams
Small IT teams (some with only 1–3 technicians) said they were overwhelmed by manually managing assets and users. Network discovery tools like Alloy Discovery enable these teams to free up time by automatically identifying devices and feeding that data into asset management workflows.
Key takeaways
Any organization that manages more than a handful of devices, and especially those relying on manual methods like spreadsheets, should consider adopting a network discovery solution. This includes IT departments in education, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and government.
If you’re struggling to keep your asset inventory accurate, detect unauthorized devices, or tie asset data into other systems like cybersecurity tools or compliance reporting, network discovery is a foundational solution.
Alloy offers two specialized tools: Alloy Discovery for on-premises deployments, and AlloyScan for cloud-based environments. Both tools automate the process of scanning network segments, identifying devices, and collecting detailed audit data—saving hours of manual effort.
More than just device detection, Alloy tools feed this data into broader IT workflows: from asset lifecycle management and ticketing to cybersecurity monitoring and compliance enforcement. This integrated intelligence helps IT teams make faster, smarter decisions while reducing risk and administrative overhead.
