Cisco Discovery Protocol CDP

CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol

CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Cisco Systems that helps network administrators to collect information about directly connected Cisco equipment.

How CDP Works

CDP works by sending out messages, called CDP advertisements, to devices on the network. These messages contain information about the device, such as its hostname, IP address, and the type of device it is.

CDP advertisements are sent out periodically, and when a device receives a CDP advertisement, it can store the information contained in the message in a CDP table. Network administrators can then use this information to identify the devices on their network and their connections to other devices.

Benefits of Using CDP

CDP can help network administrators to:

• Identify Cisco devices on the network
• Collect information about the connected devices
• Track the physical connections between devices
• Diagnose network issues

Conclusion

CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol is a powerful tool that can help network administrators to manage their Cisco networks more effectively. By using CDP, administrators can quickly identify devices on their network, collect information about those devices, and troubleshoot network issues.

How to Configure CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol

To configure CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol, follow these steps:

Step 1: Enable CDP on a Cisco Device

To enable CDP on a Cisco device, use the following command in global configuration mode:

enable cdp

This command enables CDP globally on the device, and CDP advertisements will be sent out on all interfaces.

Step 2: Configure CDP Timers

You can configure the CDP advertisement interval and holdtime using the following commands:

cdp timer <seconds>
cdp holdtime <seconds>

The default CDP advertisement interval is 60 seconds, and the default holdtime is 180 seconds. You can adjust these values based on your network requirements.

Step 3: Verify CDP Configuration

To verify the CDP configuration, use the following command:

show cdp neighbors

This command will display a list of directly connected Cisco devices and their interfaces.

Conclusion

Configuring CDP Cisco Discovery Protocol is a simple process that can be done using a few basic commands. By enabling CDP on your Cisco devices, configuring CDP timers, and verifying the configuration, you can use CDP to collect information about your network and troubleshoot issues more effectively.

Current State of Cybersecurity Data Loss

Data Loss or Data Exfiltration

Data loss or data exfiltration is when data is intentionally or unintentionally lost, stolen, or leaked to the outside world. The data loss can result in:

• Brand damage and loss of reputation
• Loss of competitive advantage
• Loss of customers
• Loss of revenue
• Litigation/legal action resulting in fines and civil penalties
• Significant cost and effort to notify affected parties and recover from the breach

Network security professionals must protect the organization’s data. Various Data Loss Prevention (DLP) controls must be implemented which combine strategic, operational and tactical measures.

Data Loss Vectors

Data Loss Vectors	Description
Email/Social Networking	Intercepted email or IM messages could be captured and reveal confidential information.
Unencrypted Devices	If the data is not stored using an encryption algorithm, then the thief can retrieve valuable confidential data.
Cloud Storage Devices	Sensitive data can be lost if access to the cloud is compromised due to weak security settings.
Removable Media	One risk is that an employee could perform an unauthorized transfer of data to a USB drive. Another risk is that a USB drive containing valuable corporate data could be lost.
Hard Copy	Confidential data should be shredded when no longer required.
Improper Access Control	Passwords or weak passwords which have been compromised can provide a threat actor with easy access to corporate data.