The reference describes a method for vulnerability assessment in a network. The method includes pinging devices to discover devices within the network. Subsequently, port scans are performed on the discovered devices and banners are collected and the information from the collected banners is stored as entries in a first database. An analysis of the entries is performed to determine potential vulnerabilities. The results of the analysis are stored in a second database. Note that the first database and the second database are coupled to the same NVA engine (The NVA engine corresponds to network scanner in ‘363).