Penetration Testing: Introduction

If you want to improve your organisation’s security posture, one of the most important things you can do is perform regular penetration tests. Penetration testing, also known as pen testing or ethical hacking, is a simulated attack on your systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities that real-world attackers could exploit.

Penetration tests can be conducted internally by your security team or by hiring a professional firm. Either way, it is essential to ensure that the tests are comprehensive and cover all potential attack vectors, from the network and application-level attacks to social engineering. Performing regular penetration tests is an essential part of any good security program. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before some people exploit them can help keep your organisation safe from harm.

Types of Penetration Testing

There are many different types of penetration testing, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular types of penetration tests:

1. Black box testing: As the name suggests, it involves testing a system without knowing its internal workings. This type of test is often used to simulate the actions of an external attacker. Using other methods, you can use it to identify vulnerabilities that may be difficult to find.

2. White box testing: White box testing is the opposite of black box testing and involves having complete knowledge of the system. This type of test is often used to find vulnerabilities that are hidden or difficult to find using other methods

3. Gray box testing:  Gray box testing lies between black box and white box testing and involves knowledge of the system under test. This type of test can help identify vulnerabilities that may be difficult to find using other methods.

4. Application security testing: Application security testing is a type of penetration test that focuses explicitly on the security of applications. This test can be used to find vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

Techniques of Penetration Testing

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing or ethical hacking, tests a computer system, network, or web application to find security vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit.

A number of different techniques can be used during a penetration test, depending on the objectives and scope of the engagement. Some standard methods include:

1. Reconnaissance: This is the first phase of a penetration test and involves gathering information about the target system, such as IP addresses, domain names, open ports, services, etc. Exploiters can obtain this information from public sources or by using scanning tools.

2. Scanning: Once surveillance has been completed, you can use scanning tools to identify vulnerable systems and applications. These tools work by sending probes to the target systems and then analysing the responses for signs of weakness.

3. Exploitation: If vulnerabilities are found during surveys or scanning, hackers can exploit them to gain access to the system or data. This may involve writing custom exploit code or using publicly available exploit scripts.

4. Post-Exploitation: Once access has been gained to a system, post-exploitation activities can be carried out, such as privilege escalation

When to use Pen Test and Who should use it?

As your business grows, your network will become increasingly complex and vulnerable to attack. A penetration test, also known as a pen test, can help you identify weaknesses in your system before an attacker does.

Penetration tests can be used to test both internal and external systems. An external test is typically conducted by an outside company and simulates an attack from the Internet. An internal test is conducted by employees and simulates an attack from within the organisation. Both types of tests are essential for identifying vulnerabilities in your system. However, internal tests are often more effective at identifying social engineering vulnerabilities, such as phishing attacks.

It is important to note that penetration tests are not a substitute for security measures, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Instead, users should use them in addition to these measures to provide a more comprehensive view of your system’s security. If you are considering a penetration test, there are a few things to remember. First, you must decide who will conduct the test if you use an outside company.

Organisations of all sizes should use penetration testing as part of their cybersecurity efforts. By simulating attacks, companies can identify vulnerabilities in their systems before hackers do. This helps organisations to harden their defences and minimise the risk of a successful attack.

That said, penetration testing is not a silver bullet. It should be just one part of a comprehensive security program that includes other measures such as strong authentication, encryption, and network segmentation.

What are the limitations of Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is a powerful tool for assessing the security of a system, but it has its limitations. Firstly, penetration testing can only simulate attacks that the testers know about. This means that penetration testing will not detect new and unknown attacks. Secondly, penetration testing is limited by the time and resources available to the testers. This means that not all potential attack vectors can be tested. Finally, penetration testing can only find vulnerabilities that exist during testing. Vulnerabilities that are introduced after the test has finished will not be detected.

Conclusion

Penetration tests can differ depending on the pen testers’ perspective and the scope of the test. Determining which penetration test is ideal for your IT infrastructure and security issues might help you avoid certain dangers and mitigate penetration testing’s downsides. Pen tests should also be tailored to the needs and goals of the given business and the industry in which it operates. It is also a good idea to conduct follow-up reports and vulnerability testing. A proper essay should explicitly describe which applications or systems were examined and how each was linked to its respective vulnerability.