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Home / Glossary / SNMP
Glossary · Protocol

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol

In plain language

A standard way for network devices such as printers and switches to report their status to a monitoring tool.

The metaphor

Like a dashboard light on each machine that a manager can check from the office.

Going deeper

How it works

  • A monitoring tool asks each device for its status.
  • Devices report things such as toner levels, temperature and link state.
  • Older versions send passwords in the clear.
  • Version 3 adds sign-in and encryption.

What can go wrong (example scenario)

A switch kept its factory community string, a shared password that was well known. Anyone on the network could read its settings.

How WILDCARD handles it

Network covers the switches and firewall, and Print Management covers the printers that report this way.

In practice
  • A tool reports a printer is out of toner.
  • A switch reports a port going up and down.
  • A scan flags a device still using the default string.

A question owners ask

Is it a security risk?

Older versions are, mainly when left on default settings. Turn it off if unused, or use version 3.

Where WILDCARD handles this
Network
  • Firewall managed and monitored
  • Switches kept current
  • On-prem Active Directory auth
Start with Network
Print
Management
Coming soon
Related terms
ACLAccess Control ListAHAuthentication HeaderAPAccess PointARPAddress Resolution ProtocolBPDUBridge Protocol Data UnitCCMPCounter Mode/CBC-MAC ProtocolCCTVClosed-circuit TelevisionCHAPChallenge Handshake Authentication Protocol

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