--- title: How Do I Control Scan Targeting? description: The targeting phase occurs after crawling completes, and before scanning commences. During the targeting phase, you can review the sitemap generated in the crawling phase and edit your scope directives to control what is in-scope for the scan. --- [Skip to content](https://kb.edgescan.com/knowledge/how-do-i-control-scan-targeting#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![Edgescan Cybersecurity Platform | EASM + RBVM + PTaaS](https://kb.edgescan.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/23LOGOS-thicker/Edgescan-Logo-Black.png?width=200&height=40&name=Edgescan-Logo-Black.png)](https://www.edgescan.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations Search the Edgescan knowledge base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://kb.edgescan.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Vulnerability Scanning](https://kb.edgescan.com/knowledge/vulnerability-scanning?hsLang=en) 3. [Scope & Targeting](https://kb.edgescan.com/knowledge/vulnerability-scanning?hsLang=en#scope-targeting) # How Do I Control Scan Targeting? ## The targeting phase occurs after crawling completes, and before scanning commences. During the targeting phase, you can review the sitemap generated in the crawling phase and edit your scope directives to control what is in-scope for the scan. Version Number: v1.0.0 Published Date: 26 Aug 2025 The function should be considered a BETA function as it has not been generally released and access to this functionality is available via request only. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ You can control if your scan should pause for targeting by selecting one of the *targeting criteria* options as described below.   ### Targeting Criteria Not every scan will need the targeting phase. For example, if the sitemap hasn't changed from the last crawl, the existing directives are likely to be sufficient. The following *targeting criteria* options dictate when a scan will pause for *targeting.*    - **Pause after every crawl.** - Scan will always pause for targeting. - **Never pause after crawling.** - Scan will never pause for targeting. - **Pause only when there is new content.** - Scan will pause if there are new URLs found which were not found in the previous crawl. - **Automatically determine when to pause.** (Determined by the criteria below) - This is the first scan for the asset. - Scan has over 3000 URLs in-scope. - There are no URLs in-scope for scanning. - Sitemap has been reduced by 50% or more since last scan. - Sitemap contains a new URL with a non-GET method. - Sitemap contains new URLs AND there are over 800 target URLs - Previous scan for this asset took over 25 days. - **Pause after next crawl only, then never.** (once off). - The next scan will pause for targeting, then switch to the never pause option for subsequent scans. - **Pause after next crawl only, then automatic** (once off). - 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