Network Penetration Test Identifies exploitable vulnerabilities and verify that your infrastructure is resilient against the most advanced network level attacks.
A network penetration test is the process of identifying security vulnerabilities in applications and systems by intentionally using various malicious techniques to evaluate the network’s security, or lack of, responses.
Similar to vulnerability assessments, a network penetration test, also known as a pen test, aims to identify vulnerabilities in a network.
However, unlike a vulnerability assessment, a penetration test is an exact simulation of a potential attack to identify vulnerabilities that are harder to find in a network.
These vulnerabilities may exist in operating systems, services and application flaws, improper configurations or risky end-user behavior. Such assessments are also useful in validating the efficacy of defensive mechanisms, as well as, end-user adherence to security policies.
Penetration tests are typically performed using manual or automated technologies to systematically compromise servers, endpoints, web applications, wireless networks, network devices, mobile devices and other potential points of exposure. Once vulnerabilities have been successfully exploited on a particular system, testers may attempt to use the compromised system to launch subsequent exploits at other internal resources – specifically by trying to incrementally achieve higher levels of security clearance and deeper access to electronic assets and information via privilege escalation.
Information about any security vulnerabilities successfully exploited through penetration testing is presented to IT and network system managers to help those professionals make strategic conclusions and prioritize related remediation efforts.
Companies have never commissioned a risk assessment
Organizations have experienced cyber attacks on operational infrastructure
Of cybercrimes get reported
User logins get stolen every second
Acting as an in-depth test of the network, the network penetration test will allow businesses to better understand their network baseline, to test their network and system security controls, prevent attacks and breaches, and ensure network security in the future.
There are numerous benefits to performing network penetration tests on your systems including:
Most of the time, the network’s baseline is identified through the use of scanning tools like port scanners, network scanners, and vulnerability scanners. Understanding a network’s baseline allows the business owner to understand what security controls are working, identify existing vulnerabilities, and provide them additional information about their network.
Unlike a vulnerability assessment, a network penetration test will put your security controls to the ultimate test. A network penetration test’s goal is to breach your network and exploit those vulnerabilities to understand the areas that need improvement.
When a successful penetration test is performed, the results assist a business owner in designing or adjusting their risk analysis and mitigation strategies.
This helps the business prevent future breaches because the network penetration test simulates a real-world attacker attempting to break into your systems.
Every single incident of compromised customer data can be costly in terms of both negatively affecting sales and tarnishing an organization’s public image. With customer retention costs higher than ever, no one wants to lose the loyal users that they’ve worked hard to earn, and data breaches are likely to turn off new clients. Penetration testing helps you avoid data incidents that put your organization’s reputation and trustworthiness at stake.
Penetration testing should be performed on a regular basis to ensure more consistent IT and network security management. In addition to regularly scheduled analysis and assessments required by regulatory mandates, tests should also be run whenever:
Your organization will grow and change over time. Factors such as a change in staff members, business lines, processes, and technology are good reasons to conduct a penetration test. We advise you to perform penetration tests of your business regularly to ensure that your systems are up to date and your employees have been properly trained
Cybersecurity is ever-evolving because cybercriminals are always innovating new ways to intrude networks and exploit vulnerabilities. Hence, it is important to perform penetration testing whenever there is a major change in the environment.
Often, regulatory bodies like PCI DSS and HIPAA encourage penetration testing to comply with regulations.
