As the IT field progresses further so do the threats and the means to tackle such risks to an organization’s Digital Infrastructure. However, penetration testing remains one of the best ways to discover and resolve any loopholes in the system before they are taken advantage of by malevolent users. But what is this penetration testing, and what is its significance.
Understanding Penetration Testing
Penetration testing is a term used to describe a simulated attack on a computer system, network or web application also known as ‘pen testing’. This attack has the aim of finding and taking advantage of weaknesses in the security of the system the way a hacker would do so. This helps organizations discover vulnerabilities that can be taken advantage of in actual attacks and mitigate them before an attack occurs.
Unlike penetration testing where there is an attempt to exploit all and every weakness, a vulnerability scan is performed to only detect the existing security concerns.
The Penetration Testing Process
Penetration testing often involves the use of frameworks with clearly defined stages as outlined below:
Planning and Reconnaissance: In this stage, the pen tester familiarizes himself with a client’s system before the actual testing. This involves determining IP addresses, domain names of the system, and any other information that might be critical in coming up with a good attack plan.
Scanning: The pen tester is able to conduct various tools to view the system and determine any weak points. This phase involves the testing of both blackbox and whitebox methods towards the determination of system vulnerabilities.
Gaining Access: In this phase, the tester makes attempts at actions at known weaknesses within the client’s system to gain entry. It does refer to the usage of known vulnerabilities and its accumulated utility, brute force or deception methods,which is social engineering.rewardsinhere. Once getting access, the penetrators scope the level of damage done and how many of the systems and data can be accessed and the level of control, that is, about 50% over the system can be imposed.
Maintaining Access: Once the initial breach has taken place, the tester may look to keep that breach active for some time to replicate the parts of the attack that follow after gaining access. This phase assists organizations to know how fast and how easily an intruder can go unnoticed in the systems and for how long.
Analysis and reporting mode: After the completion of the test, Insiders collect all information about the vulnerabilities found, ways of their exploitation, and what damage these vulnerabilities may cause in case they are left unaddressed. The report also outlines ways on how further such risks can be contained and how the system can be more fortified.
Remediation and retesting mode: Whereas it may be possible for an organization to fix certain vulnerabilities, the organization may also wish to engage in retesting after the issues have been fixed to determine whether they have indeed been addressed and whether any new ones have been created in the process.
Why Is Penetration Testing Important?
Identifying vulnerabilities: Penetration testing allows the organization to find the gaps and weaknesses in the system before such weaknesses are found by the enemies. This is very important in protecting the confidentiality, integrity and the availability of the sensitive information.
Legal Compliance: Legal and industry norms, regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS HIPAA for example obligate organizations to conduct penetration tests periodically as a security measure. Pen testing ensures that companies remain compliant with these requirements.
Enhancement of Security Posture: By identifying vulnerabilities and providing recommendations for remediation, penetration testing assists organizations in improving their security posture. Thus, the likelihood of an effective cyber attack and its attendant damages in terms of finance, reputation, and legal issues are minimized.
Instilling trust: Gaining trust is easy to the customers and partners of organizations that consider measures of data security. Carrying out penetration exercises regularly is an indication of the organization’s audacity towards the security and can improve the perception and trust levels of the organization.
Conclusion
However, penetration testing is one of the most crucial parts of any substantial cyber security policy. It is understood that on the premises of such methodology it is possible to prevent major losses to an organization by securing its infrastructure before any potential vandalism occurs. Nowadays, as cyber threats increase and become more sophisticated the necessity of penetration testing is another agreeable fact to add in the latter of protecting assets.
