Which phase typically sees connectivity errors during the discovery process?

The Port Scan Phase is where connectivity errors are most commonly encountered during the discovery process. This phase involves probing the target systems to identify open ports and services running on those ports. If there are issues with network connectivity, such as firewalls being in place, incorrect network configurations, or the target device being powered off, it can lead to false negatives—where the discovery tool fails to detect the opened ports that are actually available. These connectivity issues can hinder the discovery process and lead to incomplete or inaccurate data about the network’s topology and available services.

The purpose of this phase is to establish a clear view of the ports that are open, which is essential for understanding how to interact with the systems in question. Consequently, any error during this phase directly impacts the effectiveness of the entire discovery process, emphasizing the importance of ensuring stable connectivity and proper network configuration before initiating the port scan.