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What Is a Penetration Test Vancouver

A penetration test is a process of examining a network for external vulnerabilities and if any are discovered, conducting a controlled attack to confirm the findings. This sort of examination is useful for analyzing a company’s overall security posture.

Our company follows a defined process that comprises the procedures below to achieve a safe and complete Penetration Test:

Discovery, Enumeration, Research, Exploitation and Reporting.

One of the most crucial aspects that are sometimes disregarded is discovery. The discovery process entails acquiring information on the target company, its systems, and its workers from publicly accessible sources. The data generated is utilized to help the testing team throughout the exploitation phase and gives light to its present external presence.

The testing team will seek to extract as much information about each component as possible once the discovery phase has provided domain names, hostnames, and network boundaries, i.e., firewalls, routers, and intrusion detection systems.

The testing team will undertake research utilizing different databases based on the data acquired during the discovery and enumeration stages to understand how identified vulnerabilities might be disclosed and exploited. The testing team will try to exploit the vulnerabilities discovered during the enumeration phase with the customer’s authorization. When this essential step is finished, the final component will be ready.

There are three types of reports presented when recommendations and comments on the overall network effectiveness are summarized: an executive summary, a high-level overview of findings; a technical review for IT Executives only; and a discovery findings overview, which is included as a reference for better effectiveness.

Why Are Penetration Tests So Important in Your Security Strategy?

Penetration testing is the most reliable way for evaluating the security threats of computer systems, online applications, and even physical locations.

Its origins may be traced back to the 1970s, when the Department of Defense initiated comprehensive penetration testing to reveal the security flaws in its computer systems, based on the notion that the best approach to evaluate security was to attempt to breach it. Organizations continue to depend on penetration examinations to find weaknesses before a criminal does, even after four decades.

Penetration testing has grown over time into a collection of specialized tests intended to identify how susceptible specific systems or assets are to malicious assaults. Despite its growth, each test retains its basic framework of replicating real-world assaults utilizing tools and tactics used by actual criminals to produce a baseline evaluation of an organization’s security posture. Penetration testing is the most reliable way for evaluating the security threats of computer systems, online applications, and even physical locations.

Its origins may be traced back to the 1970s, when the Department of Defense initiated comprehensive penetration testing to reveal the security flaws in its computer systems, based on the notion that the best approach to evaluate security was to attempt to breach it. Organizations continue to depend on penetration examinations to find weaknesses before a criminal does, even after four decades.

Penetration testing has grown over time into a collection of specialized tests intended to identify how susceptible specific systems or assets are to malicious assaults. Despite its growth, each test retains its basic framework of replicating real-world assaults utilizing tools and tactics used by actual criminals to produce a baseline evaluation of an organization’s security posture.

The Most Common Types of Penetration Tests

  • External Penetration Tests: These come from beyond the network perimeter and are used to look for vulnerabilities in external IT systems and assets. The test is a step-by-step procedure that simulates a real attacker exploiting a tiny flaw to obtain larger access to the system. Testers are provided just the most basic knowledge about the targeted system to mimic a real external assault. They are free to explore any publicly accessible source – such as web pages or social media platforms – for useful information that will aid in the hack. The testers are then allowed to utilize popular hacking tools to attack any known flaw. The findings enable the firm to prioritize a strategy and address each flaw separately.
  • Internal Penetration Tests: These tests look for flaws in systems and assets “behind the firewall” that an attacker might exploit. The test frequently imitates an attack from inside the organization, such as a disgruntled employee, an uninvited visitor, or an external hacker who has gained access to the internal network. Testers are often given limited network access and just the minimum information that someone with the supplied rights would ordinarily have. The tester then attempts to increase their access via privilege escalation, eventually gaining access to unlawful data.
  • Web Application Tests: Hackers often use them as an access point because firewalls and intrusion detection systems can’t easily protect against web application assaults. Worse, a very basic application vulnerability may often be exploited to acquire access to private information. Although testing a web application while still in development is the recommended practice, this is not always possible for enterprises that incorporate third-party applications into their electronic infrastructure. As a result, it’s critical to devote extra attention to regularly testing these web-based apps.
  • Non-traditional Penetration Tests: Outside of the electronic infrastructure, numerous sensitive locations are susceptible to nasty vulnerabilities. The efficacy of the organization’s internal security measures, security policies, and awareness initiatives is assessed via social engineering testing. The tests are generally quite effective in uncovering flaws that thieves often use to compromise security. These tests enable firms to analyze their Information Security policies and workers’ compliance with them and uncover security flaws inside the physical facility.

Penetration testing isn’t the only way to test security. Other security procedures, such as a thorough vulnerability assessment, a full security assessment, a Policy Assessment, or a comprehensive risk assessment, are not substituted. It’s also not only a required procedure for meeting legal requirements. On the other hand, a penetration test is an important aspect of a complete security program. It may give specific guidance on protecting an IT infrastructure against real-world assaults and the danger of vulnerabilities.

New dangers develop, and corporate procedures are updated. Testing should be done regularly as part of a full IT security compliance program that includes internal and external network security assessments, security policy reviews, and end-user security awareness.

Cyberhunter is a leading provider of security, risk, and compliance solutions. The company assists businesses of all sizes to achieve, maintain, and demonstrate IT security compliance while also strengthening their security posture. Cyberhunter assists customers with all important components of a successful IT Security Compliance program, including people, process, and technology, via a mix of software and professional services solutions.

 

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