Penetration Testing: Manage Security Performance and Improve Cyber Security Posture

Penetration testing involves security professionals to assess the effectiveness of their security controls that include intrusion detection and response systems. It also identifies all system weaknesses that need to be addressed. In a pen test, testers simulate real-time attacks in a controlled environment to pinpoint vulnerabilities in such a way that is doesn’t expose the company’s data or harm your networks, or systems. These weaknesses can result from different courses like coding issues, unpatched software, and weak passwords. These vulnerabilities are highlighted during pen testing and it is also known as ethical hacking. A pen testing company helps in designing pen tests to improve a business’s security against attacks. 

Objectives of Pen-Testing 

We have listed a few major objectives of pen-testing:

• It identifies potential breaches and vulnerabilities by footprint analysis 
• It successfully gains access to sensitive data/systems
• It simulates cyber-attacks with the help of manual and automated tools to penetrate vulnerable systems, applications, and services. 

Choosing the Right Pen-Tests

Penetration testing services can be tailored to test different products. Before hiring a pen testing company, it is critical to determine which approach to use for pen-testing. Most of the companies provide an initial questionnaire to see which test meets their specific requirements.  

Black Box Tests - These tests are performed without any prior knowledge about the network under testing. It is an assessment of security from outside a network by a third person. These include functional testing, non-functional testing, and regression testing. Black box tests do not include a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, which may cause severe damage to the network. 

White Box Tests - They are performed with complete knowledge about the internal design of an ecosystem under test. It is used to test software for gaps in code and security with the help of logic tests. 

Grey Box Tests - These tests are a combination of white and black box testing. Experts use these tactics to assess the level of software security. They combine operational testing from an outsider’s perspective with an advanced understanding of the software application. 

It is important to select the right testing approach for a successful result. A white box test uncovers areas where developers leave credentials in software code and also uncover vulnerabilities in the systems. 

Basic Types of Penetration Tests

External Network Pen-Tests: It is a black box testing that is designed to identify information available to the public about any organization, including IP addresses, personal information (email IDs, passwords, etc.) This information will allow security experts to identify potential weaknesses. 

Internal Network Pen-Tests: A white box testing that simulates what happens if a user’s account is hacked or gained access to. 

When a business hires a pen testing company, the owner can ask pen tests to be tailored to search for vulnerabilities in web apps, mobile apps, and wireless IT networks. Penetration testing provides a brief snapshot of a business’s security posture. When these tests are performed the landscape can change dramatically. As new tools are introduced, the pen testers should know about using these tools in the most effective and efficient ways. It is important that companies remain vigilant enough to prevent breaches and also find out when their system is breached. This is only possible by placing a security performance management system to bolster defenses in between different pen testing processes. There are different software available to ensure that a business is safe from the ever-evolving sophisticated attacks that malicious hackers are learning.

In the current pandemic situation, businesses are investing in ethical hacking where pen-testers think like a black hat hacker and simulates attacks to assess the network of a business. It becomes all-the-more-important for firms to invest in the right pen testing company to achieve their objectives and ensure they are on the right track. In case, there is a similar attack on the business in the future, the security experts will be prepared and will know what they need to strengthen their security. Additionally, they will also have a remediation plan ready at their hands, in case an attack is successful after placing security checks on those vulnerable areas. A good pen testing vendor has the capabilities to plan and execute pen tests against their own clients or networks to assess where their cybersecurity is headed to. Not only does it improve their security but also discourages attackers from trying to gain access to their systems. It bolsters the overall cybersecurity stature of business and steers it in the right direction without compromising critical data.