diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/models/machine.py b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/models/machine.py
index 96fc35e80..a4dfbc982 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/cc/models/machine.py
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/cc/models/machine.py
@@ -1,19 +1,45 @@
+import json
 from ipaddress import IPv4Interface
-from typing import Mapping, Optional, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Dict, Mapping, Optional, Sequence
 
 from pydantic import Field, validator
 
 from common import OperatingSystem
-from common.base_models import MutableInfectionMonkeyBaseModel
+from common.base_models import MutableInfectionMonkeyBaseModel, MutableInfectionMonkeyModelConfig
 from common.transforms import make_immutable_sequence
 from common.types import HardwareID, NetworkService, SocketAddress
 
 from . import MachineID
 
 
+def _serialize_network_services(machine_dict: Dict, *, default):
+    machine_dict["network_services"] = {
+        str(addr): val for addr, val in machine_dict["network_services"].items()
+    }
+    return json.dumps(machine_dict, default=default)
+
+
 class Machine(MutableInfectionMonkeyBaseModel):
     """Represents machines, VMs, or other network nodes discovered by Infection Monkey"""
 
+    class Config(MutableInfectionMonkeyModelConfig):
+        json_dumps = _serialize_network_services
+
+    @validator("network_services", pre=True)
+    def _socketaddress_from_string(cls, v: Any) -> Any:
+        if not isinstance(v, Mapping):
+            # Let pydantic's type validation handle this
+            return v
+
+        new_network_services = {}
+        for addr, service in v.items():
+            if isinstance(addr, SocketAddress):
+                new_network_services[addr] = service
+            else:
+                new_network_services[SocketAddress.from_string(addr)] = service
+
+        return new_network_services
+
     id: MachineID = Field(..., allow_mutation=False)
     """Uniquely identifies the machine within the island"""
 
@@ -35,7 +61,7 @@ class Machine(MutableInfectionMonkeyBaseModel):
     hostname: str = ""
     """The hostname of the machine"""
 
-    network_services: Mapping[SocketAddress, NetworkService]
+    network_services: Mapping[SocketAddress, NetworkService] = Field(default_factory=dict)
     """All network services found running on the machine"""
 
     _make_immutable_sequence = validator("network_interfaces", pre=True, allow_reuse=True)(
diff --git a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/monkey_island/cc/models/test_machine.py b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/monkey_island/cc/models/test_machine.py
index b63006d35..cecfd6fd5 100644
--- a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/monkey_island/cc/models/test_machine.py
+++ b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/monkey_island/cc/models/test_machine.py
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@ from typing import MutableSequence
 import pytest
 
 from common import OperatingSystem
+from common.types import NetworkService, SocketAddress
 from monkey_island.cc.models import Machine
 
+SOCKET_ADDR_1 = "192.168.1.10:5000"
+SOCKET_ADDR_2 = "192.168.1.10:8080"
+
 MACHINE_OBJECT_DICT = MappingProxyType(
     {
         "id": 1,
@@ -17,6 +21,10 @@ MACHINE_OBJECT_DICT = MappingProxyType(
         "operating_system": OperatingSystem.WINDOWS,
         "operating_system_version": "eXtra Problems",
         "hostname": "my.host",
+        "network_services": {
+            SocketAddress.from_string(SOCKET_ADDR_1): NetworkService.UNKNOWN,
+            SocketAddress.from_string(SOCKET_ADDR_2): NetworkService.UNKNOWN,
+        },
     }
 )
 
@@ -26,9 +34,13 @@ MACHINE_SIMPLE_DICT = MappingProxyType(
         "hardware_id": uuid.getnode(),
         "island": True,
         "network_interfaces": ["10.0.0.1/24", "192.168.5.32/16"],
-        "operating_system": "windows",
+        "operating_system": OperatingSystem.WINDOWS.value,
         "operating_system_version": "eXtra Problems",
         "hostname": "my.host",
+        "network_services": {
+            SOCKET_ADDR_1: NetworkService.UNKNOWN.value,
+            SOCKET_ADDR_2: NetworkService.UNKNOWN.value,
+        },
     }
 )
 
@@ -60,6 +72,11 @@ def test_to_dict():
         ("operating_system", "bsd"),
         ("operating_system_version", {}),
         ("hostname", []),
+        ("network_services", 42),
+        ("network_services", [SOCKET_ADDR_1]),
+        ("network_services", None),
+        ("network_services", {SOCKET_ADDR_1: "Hello"}),
+        ("network_services", {SocketAddress.from_string(SOCKET_ADDR_1): "Hello"}),
     ],
 )
 def test_construct_invalid_field__type_error(key, value):
@@ -77,6 +94,7 @@ def test_construct_invalid_field__type_error(key, value):
         ("hardware_id", 0),
         ("network_interfaces", [1, "stuff", 3]),
         ("network_interfaces", ["10.0.0.1/16", 2, []]),
+        ("network_services", {"192.168.": NetworkService.UNKNOWN.value}),
     ],
 )
 def test_construct_invalid_field__value_error(key, value):
@@ -230,3 +248,19 @@ def test_hostname_default_value():
     m = Machine(**missing_hostname_dict)
 
     assert m.hostname == ""
+
+
+def test_set_network_services_validates():
+    m = Machine(**MACHINE_OBJECT_DICT)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        m.network_services = {"not-an-ip": NetworkService.UNKNOWN.value}
+
+
+def test_set_network_services_default_value():
+    missing_network_services = MACHINE_OBJECT_DICT.copy()
+    del missing_network_services["network_services"]
+
+    m = Machine(**missing_network_services)
+
+    assert m.network_services == {}
diff --git a/vulture_allowlist.py b/vulture_allowlist.py
index 0dbb29f50..fc890fd8e 100644
--- a/vulture_allowlist.py
+++ b/vulture_allowlist.py
@@ -343,4 +343,6 @@ CC_TUNNEL
 # TODO remove when 2267 is done
 NetworkServiceNameEnum.UNKNOWN
 Machine.network_services
+Machine.config.json_dumps
+Machine._socketaddress_from_string
 Node.tcp_connections