What is the primary use of NMap?

• A. It is used for network discovery and security auditing.
• B. It is used for file transfer over FTP.
• C. It is used to manage DNS zones.
• D. It is used to monitor server uptime.

Answer: (B)

Nmap is a tool built for discovering what exists on a network and for assessing how secure it is. It helps you see which devices are reachable, which ports are open on those devices, and what services are running behind those ports. This gives you a clear map of the network’s landscape and highlights potential security issues, such as unnecessary open services, outdated software, or misconfigured defenses. It can also identify operating systems and versions, which helps tailor security checks and tests.

This differs from file transfer over FTP, which is about moving files between machines. It also isn’t used to manage DNS zones, which involves configuring domain name resolution, nor is it a dedicated uptime monitoring tool, which tracks service availability over time.