With constantly growing cybersecurity risks, businesses utilise various different methods of protection: some are reactive and others proactive.
Penetration testing, also often referred to as pentesting, is one of the most effective proactive security measures. This article will explain what it is and how it works.
What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing essentially means simulating a cyberattack, as if it is happening in real life. This test could be conducted on the company’s system, application, network, or even employees. The main goal of it is to find the potential security weaknesses and vulnerabilities, before a real attacker finds them with malicious intent. Since they simulate real attacks, pentesting services are very effective in finding issues and recommending improvements.
Why is pentesting needed?
In addition to helping businesses detect potential security vulnerabilities that criminals could exploit, penetration testing has other benefits. One of the most important is regulatory compliance – they help ensure that companies are following all the industry standards, particularly when it comes to protecting consumer data. Failure to do so could lead to hefty fines or a security breach, which can also damage the company’s reputation. Therefore, pentesting is a cost-effective way to address any cybersecurity weak spots proactively.
What are the different types of tests?
Pentesting includes a variety of different tests that can be performed to check different areas in the company. Here are some of the most common tests:
Internal: These tests are done from a perspective of someone who has access to the company’s internal network, whether that’s wireless or wired. For example, this could include access to the business remote desktop or VPN.
External (perimeter): External pentesting simulates an attack on a company’s assets that are available publicly, such as their website, domains, public IPs or any other exposed services.
Wi-Fi: Intrusion tests can also be performed on the company’s wireless internet network, in order to assess their security.
Social engineering: In addition to testing the systems, pentesting is also conducted on people. This is to ensure that your employees are well-trained to recognise scams or phishing emails.
How does penetration testing work?
Penetration testing can be done internally, but it is usually recommended to get a third-party service, to ensure the accuracy and reliability of these tests. The tests will typically start with a planning and reconnaissance phase, where testers gather information about your systems and networks. This is where they will identify potential focuses and decide on the techniques that should be used for testing.
Next, the testing team will then use advanced tools to scan and identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Once that is ready, the testers will attempt to gain access into your systems, simulating real-world attacks. This could be done through multiple different techniques, such as password cracking or fake phishing emails to your employees.
The tests are completed at random times, which are unknown to the company’s employees, to conduct the most accurate tests. After completion, the pentesting team will analyse the vulnerabilities found and create reports with recommendations for improvements.
Conclusion
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated by the say, using proactive security measures is of paramount importance. Regular penetration testing is one of the most effective ways to ensure the highest level of protection at all times.