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Updating Agent Attributes

Last updated: 2023-09-29



Purpose

This article describes how to update the user defined attributes in agents.

Introduction

The Updating Agent Attributes feature in Outpost24 OUTSCAN controls how attribute values associated with agents update and synchronize with target attributes. Agent attributes contain metadata that describes the system where the agent runs, such as numeric values, text labels, or status flags. Administrators configure attribute updates through scan scheduling and discovery settings. During agent discovery, the platform updates target attributes based on agent-reported data or predefined override values. Two configuration areas control this behavior: Agent Attribute Updates, which updates attributes using values reported by the agent, and Customize Targets, which applies administrator-defined values. Priority rules determine which values update the target attributes when both mechanisms are active.

Organizations use Updating Agent Attributes to maintain accurate and consistent asset metadata across agents and targets. Automatic updates align attribute values with information discovered by the agent, while override settings provide control when administrators require predefined values. This process improves asset classification, filtering, grouping, and reporting within the platform. Accurate attribute data ensures that vulnerability management workflows reflect current system information and maintain reliable asset inventory records.

Schedule Setting

To activate the Attribute settings:

  1. Go to the Main Menu > Netsec > Scan Scheduling > Edit a schedule.

  2. Select the Discovery Settings tab.

  3. Select the Agent Discovery check box.

  4. Select the Add Found Targets To Target Group check box.

    image2023-9-28_8-18-19.png

To verify the settings:

  1. Go to the Main Menu > Netsec > Manage Targets

    image2023-9-28_8-26-31.png



  2. We can see the Target attributes with their values: Checkbox Attribute, Text Attribute, Number Attribute

Configuring the Agent Attributes

There are two places for updating targets' attributes, Agent Attribute Updates and Customize Targets.

Agent Attribute Updates

The Will be changed checkbox can now be checked/unchecked.

  • If checked, the selected Target attributes are updated by the discovery result from Agent discovery.

    image2023-9-28_7-52-3.png

  • If unchecked, the attribute sub-checkboxes are greyed out and disabled. It means no Target attributes are updated by the Agent discovery result.

    image2023-9-28_7-52-59.png

Customize Targets

The Update Attributes checkbox can be checked/unchecked.

image2023-9-28_7-56-35.png


  • If checked, the relevant Target attributes are updated by values of the below attributes (for example, Number Attribute value is 1337).

It still depends on the settings on Agent Attribute Updates (higher priority) to decide which value to update on the relevant Target attribute.


  • If unchecked, no Target attributes will be updated by values of the below attributes.

If there is no custom attribute or no custom attribute for type Target, the Agent Attribute Updates section and Update Attributes checkbox in Customize Targets are hidden.

image2023-9-28_8-10-46.png


Attribute Function Examples

Both Will be changed and Update Attributes are checked

If both Will be changed and Update Attributes are checked:

image2023-9-28_8-19-50.png


  • In Agent Update Attributes, only Number Attribute is checked, this means the Number Attribute Target attribute will be updated by the Agent discovery result, regardless of the setting in Customize Targets.

  • For other unchecked attributes, Text Attribute and Number Attribute in Agent Attributes Updates, and the Update Attributes in Customize Targets checked, then the relevant Target attribute will be updated by the value of attributes in Customize Targets.
    For example, the value Text Override Value of Text Attribute and the value 1337 of Number Attribute will be updated to relevant Target attributes.


In case both Will be changed and Update Attributes are checked but NO attribute in Agent Attribute Updates is selected, Will be changed will be ignored and only the attributes in Update Attributes applied.


In case there are no attributes on the Agent side, the Agent Attribute Updates section will be ignored.

In case there are some attributes that are not on the Agent side, these attributes will also be ignored.


Both Will be changed and Update Attributes are unchecked

In case both Will be changed and Update Attributes are unchecked, no Target attribute will be updated.

image2023-9-28_8-34-10.png


In case both Will be changed and Update Attributes are checked but no attribute selected. the Will be changed will be ignored and only the checked attributes in Update Attributes is applied.


Only Will be changed is checked

In case only Will be changed in Agent Attribute Updates is checked, the Target attributes' value totally depends on the Agent discovery result whether the attribute is checked or not.
For example, Number Attribute is checked, then Number Attribute of Target attribute will be updated only.

image2023-9-28_8-38-44.png


Only Update Attributes are checked

In case only Update Attributes of Customize Targets is checked, the Target attributes' value totally depends on the value of relevant attributes in Customize Targets.

image2023-9-28_8-47-7.png


For example, according to the value of the attribute in Customize Targets, the Target attributes will be updated as follows:

image2023-9-28_8-47-55.png


  • Checkbox Attribute will be updated to No

  • Text Attribute will be updated to Text Override Value

  • Number Attribute will be updated to 1337



References

Attributes