SafetyNet: Open source self-service proactive security scanner

SafetyNet (SN) was written by VT (Virginia Tech) staff to empower DIT (Distributed IT) staff and end users to do remote security vulnerability scanning of their computing resources. Our university had no centrally managed security vulnerability assessment tool that allowed this with the necessary level of granular management. The onus was upon IT (central and distributed) staff and end users to identify and proactively run free tools to test their systems locally and remotely. SN is unlike other vulnerability scanning systems (such as Purdue's VSC or Indiana's ITSO tools). SN is not a NetReg or quarantine service. It is an extensible framework for building a suite of scanning tools into a standard web based interface which maintains authentication, authorization, IP and DNS information, scan history and remediation documentation in a secure, stable and scalable environment.