Penetration testing is a cyber security practice in which experts try to find vulnerabilities in systems and networks. The main objective of penetration testing is to detect the flaws and security loopholes in the system so they cannot be exploited by cyber thieves.
The security experts create different scenarios to check that their system is free of vulnerabilities and no one can gain access to it. This testing procedure helps improve security measures so businesses can keep operational matters on track and improve their productivity.
Importance of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing helps companies find vulnerabilities in their networks and systems. If these flaws are not detected on time, then cyber intruders and attackers can exploit these weaknesses, which can cause heavy losses.
Furthermore, penetration testing helps businesses comply with privacy and data regulations by identifying different ways where confidential data can be exposed. It helps security experts to take necessary measures to protect data and ensure that nobody can access the data.
According to data regulations in different countries, penetration testing is a must for companies, so it enforces relevant policies for businesses.
Who is Responsible for Penetration Testing
The penetration testing team comprises individuals who have prior knowledge and expertise in cyber security practices. These professionals know how to secure systems and identify the security loopholes that are missed by the development team.
Most companies outsource penetration testing services or hire contractors to perform the tests. The professionals who work in the penetration assessment team are also known as ethical hackers. The reason is that they hack the systems with the company’s permission to detect the flaws and improve the security posture.
Ethical hackers are usually developers who have years of experience and relevant certifications. They know how to resolve security vulnerabilities rather than exploiting them. The requirements of this method can vary depending on the industry and type of penetration testing that a company wants.
Types of Penetration Testing
There are different types of penetration testing that you must know about to better understand the process. Here are some more details.
Open-Box Pen Test
In this type of assessment, the hacker who works with the team has some information ahead of time regarding the organization’s cybersecurity.
Closed-box Pen Test
The closed-box testing requires no background information apart from the company’s name. In this method, different outcomes are evaluated through different inputs and outputs.
Internal Pen Test
In an internal test, the hackers test the internal network of the organization to determine if employees can cause damage from behind the company’s firewall.
External Pen Test
Ethical hackers test the company’s external technologies and tools to find potential vulnerabilities. It includes their external network servers and websites, and different types of tests are conducted from remote locations to find out the flaws.
Covert Pen Test
It is also known as the double-blind pen test because, in this type of test, no one in the organization knows that the test is actually happening. It also includes the security professionals and IT team members, as they have to respond to the attack. For these types of tests, ethical hackers require complete details and scope of the test in a written form to avoid any legal issues.
How is Penetration Test Performed?
These tests are performed with the expertise of ethical hackers, where they gather information about the target company. They plan and prepare how they will get access to the target system, which requires a different set of tools that help in an attack, such as SQL injections or brute-force attacks.
This process involves hardware like small inconspicuous boxes that can be connected to computing systems and networks that give hackers remote access. The social engineering techniques are also used to identify vulnerabilities. It includes sending phishing emails to employees of the organization or pretending to be someone else, like a delivery boy, to gain access to the premises of the office.
What Happens After Penetration Testing?
After the completion of this test, ethical hackers share their evaluations and findings with the company’s security team. These valuable details can be used to improve security measures and to fix the existing flaws in the system. Ethical hackers share different suggestions with teams on how to upgrade the security of web applications and internal networks.
Security upgrades like the zero trust security model are recommended, and the outcomes of social engineering tactics are shared with the company.
Benefits of Penetration Testing
Companies can get plenty of benefits from penetration testing. It is hard to prevent attacks on systems and software, but it is possible to keep systems free of security flaws so no vulnerability is there to be exploited.
Some of the main benefits that this process offers include the detection of flaws in systems that can cause major financial losses. Also, it allows it teams to check the robustness of controls and ensure that the company is adhering to security and data privacy regulations. It also provides quantitative and qualitative analysis of the company’s existing security posture.
Pros and Cons of Penetration Testing
There is always a positive and negative side to everything, so you must know about both sides of the picture. Penetration testing comes with pros and cons, so if you are a business owner and want to secure your systems and network, you must know about it. Firstly, here are the pros that you need to know about.
- Finding security loopholes in the system by using relevant tools and different vulnerability assessment methods.
- Detecting known and unknown flaws in the software that can harm business operations and create complex attack patterns.
- Ethical hackers can mimic how malicious hackers perform attacks, so companies can get an idea of how they have to deal with real-world cyber threats.
Now, let’s talk about some cons of penetration testing.
- It can be costly, so it can be difficult for startups to afford.
- It does not completely prevent bugs from entering into the codes and systems.
Stages of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing works in different phases, so testers have to follow a particular plan to attain their desired results. Here are the phases of the penetration testing.
Reconnaissance
The first step is to get information about the target from different sources to plan the attack. Sources like domain registration information, internet searches, and social engineering tactics help to gather as many details about the target as possible. This information allows penetration testers to find potential vulnerabilities. This step can vary in different assessment procedures and also depends on the scope and objectives of the particular company.
Scanning
Testers use different tools to analyze the website, system, and networks for potential flaws that can help them access these valuable assets. They use different tools to find the application security loopholes and other weaknesses that exist in the company’s open-source system.
Getting Access
This phase is about getting access to the target’s website, application, or system to steal, delete, or change data or just harm the company’s reputation. Penetration testers use different tools to get access to the system by using different techniques such as SQL injection or malware.
Maintaining Access
After testers get access to the target, they try to stay connected for a long time to achieve their goals, such as misusing the functionality or changing the data. It is all about showing the impact of the attack.
Final Words
Penetration testing is crucial to identify the vulnerabilities in any network or system. It helps companies make necessary upgrades and improve their security posture so they can build a strong defense mechanism against cyber-attacks.