The import functionality is part of the Enterprise version of securiCAD.
Importing data can help you create models in several ways, by;
- extending an existing high level model with additional objects
- adding details to already modeled objects
- providing an initial starting point for further modeling
What role the imported information will play is mainly dependent on what type of information the particular data source can provide.
| Type of data source | Information provided | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Network scans | Hosts and services | Nmap |
| Firewall rules | Firewalls, routers, networks and dataflows | Juniper |
| Vulnerability scanners | Patch levels of services and hosts | Nessus |
| Drawing tools | Networks, firewalls, hosts and data sets | Visio |
Importing data from different sources is done via parsers in securiCAD Enterprise. Some parsers for supported formats are already built-in to the securiCAD Enterprise interface, but there is also an SDK for creating additional parsers, adding new formats, available.
Import using a built-in parser
Select file to import
When you first log in to the securiCAD Enterprise interface, you will see a list of your projects. Select a project you want to add the imported data to.
Importing files is done by uploading them to an existing project. Click the Upload button to the right.
Click on the “Drag files here or browse” area. Then use the file browser to locate and select the file you want to import.
Select source type from the drop down menu.
And then click on the “Add model” button.
Generated model
After importing a file with external data, you will see a new model in the project overview list of models.
Looking to the far right, you will see that the model is marked with a red cross in the “Valid” column. This means that securiCAD Enterprise has concluded that this model is not yet complete enough to run a simulation on. This is normal for most imported data, since different data sources provide different types of information, but very few provide all necessary assets and connections to run a securiCAD simulation.
Download the generated model
To inspect the imported model, use the “Download” button and then open it in securiCAD Professional or Community Edition.
When importing external data, the resulting generated model will not have any canvas with objects in it. In other words, it will look empty. The objects are only added to the Object Explorer list. To check on the imported objects, first create a new view in securiCAD Professional or Community and then pick objects from the Object Explorer list to start working with them.
An example; Importing data from Visio
Visio data contribution
From Visio, securiCAD will import hosts, routers, firewalls, networks, users and datastores, based on the different types of objects used in the Visio drawing.
The Visio data import will produce a model containing objects found in the Visio drawing. This model can then be loaded into securiCAD Professional Edition, or, if the total number of objects imported is below 100, securiCAD Community Edition, where the objects can be manually interconnected.
Comparing the input data with the generated model
The Visio input file looks like the following.
The Visio shapes have been translated to modeling objects in the generated securiCAD model.
Apart from the hosts shown in the above screenshot, we have also got datastore, firewall and network objects from the Visio file.
Input data to securiCAD model mapping
| Visio shape | securiCAD object |
|---|---|
| Server Mainframe Super computer Printer Screen Telephone Cell phone Smart phone Multi-function device PC Laptop computer LCD monitor Terminal Tablet computer PDA iMac New iMac CRT monitor Virtual server Diagnostic device Public/Private access server File server Web server Application server Mobile Information server FTP server CMS server Directory server Print server Mail server Management server Real-time communications server Database server Proxy server Streaming media server Email server E-Commerce server Content management server Mobile information server Terminal server Comm server Host Public/private key server Certificate server | Host |
| Router Switch Comm-link Bridge Hub Modem Wireless access point ATM router ISDN switch ATM switch ATM/FastGB etherswitch Workgroup switch Small hub 100BaseT hub Gateway WAN | Router |
| Firewall | Firewall |
| Cloud Ring network Ethernet | Network |
| User | User |
| Data | Datastore |