# Port Audit

Last Updated On: 23 Jul 2026  
2 minutes read

Any application or service running on a system utilizes a port to make itself accessible over the network. By performing a port audit, Endpoint Central gives you continuous visibility over active ports, helps detect exposed services that may be vulnerable to exploitation, and identifies unintended ports activated by malware or unknown applications.

## Overview

Port audit helps you to:

- Continuously monitor active ports in your network systems.
- Identify whether the port is UDP or TCP.
- Filter active ports based on the port range, which includes system ports (0—1023) and registered ports (1024—49151).
- Identify the number of instances of each active port.

**Applies to:**

- Windows
- Linux

## Performing a Port Audit

To audit ports in use, navigate to **Threats & Patches → Threats → Port Audit**.

![Port Audit view listing active ports with details including port type, port range, and number of instances across managed systems](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/vm5.png)

Port Audit view listing active ports and their details across managed systems.

Click **Instances** to view the number and details of the executables listening on a particular port on each system.

![Instances view showing the executables and systems listening on a selected port](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/vm6.png)

Instances view showing executables listening on the selected port across systems.

## Related

- [Vulnerability Management Overview](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/vulnerability-management/vulnerability-management-overview.html)
- [Vulnerability Assessment and Prioritization](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/vulnerability-management/assess-and-remediate-vulnerabilities.html)
- [Audit and Eliminate High-Risk Software](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/vulnerability-management/audit-and-eliminate-high-risk-software.html)
- [Managing Threat and Vulnerability Exceptions](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/vulnerability-management/managing-threat-and-vulnerability-exceptions.html)