Network penetration testing is a process of imitating an attack on a computer network to mark out vulnerabilities and assess accuracy of security measures.
The process involves several tools and methods to probe and utilize the flaws in network infrastructure, application, and configuration. The prime goal of network penetration testing is to find out and fix the vulnerabilities before cyber-criminals exploit them.
The global pentesting market is growing at a rapid pace. In 2021 the market was valued at $1.87 Billion and by 2028 it is expected to reach $5.28 Billion at a CAGR of 15.97 percent.
Methods of Network Pentesting
- Black Box Testin In this specific category of testing an attack from an outsider with no prior information regarding the target system or network is simulated. Black box testing is primarily used to mark out the vulnerabilities with a higher chance of getting exploited by external hackers.
- White Box Testing. In this category an attack from an insider with complete knowledge about the target system or network is simulated. White box testing is primarily used to identify the flaws that can be utilized by internal users.
- Grey Box Testing. In this category an attack from an outsider with limited information about the target system or network is simulated. Grey box testing is primarily used to identify the vulnerabilities that can be used by outsider hackers with some sort of idea and information about the system or network.
Network Penetration Testing- A Complete Checklist
- Scope Of The Test. Clearly define the scope of the test, which includes the systems, networks, and software to be tested. It will make sure that the network penetration testing is focused and that any flaws uncovered are well within the scope of the test.
- Take Permission. You must have proper authorization before conducting any kind of network penetration testing. Written consent from the organization or any other relevant legal agreement is recommended.
- Plan The Test. Apart from obtaining proper authorization it is also important to have a proper plan that outlines the specific objectives of the test, the strategies to be utilized, the methods to be used, and the expected outcomes. It will make sure that the test is conducted in an accurately controlled and systematic way.
- Utilization Of The Right Tools. You must use the right tools for the specific type of testing you are conducting. The utilization of accurate tools makes sure the testing is accurate and thorough.
- Follow Ethical Guidelines. It is the best idea to follow ethical guidelines and best practices when conducting penetration testing. This includes not causing any damage to the systems or networks during testing, and not even disrupting the usual operations of the organization.
- Documentation Of Results. Thoroughly document all your findings, such as vulnerabilities in the system or network, and any recommended remediation step. This documentation can be provided to the organization along with the report with the detailed results of the test.
- Offer Recommendations. Offer recommendations to improve the security according to the outcomes of the test. The recommendations can be for specific security controls like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, or even encryption, and recommendations for security policies and procedures as well.
- Follow-Up. Follow-up is an important part to know if the organization has addressed the vulnerabilities identified during the testing and utilized the recommendations or not.
Benefits of Network Penetration Testing
Network penetration testing is very useful to know the faults of your network and also for improvement. To be more specific-
- Identifying Flaws. Network pentesting helps organizations mark out vulnerabilities within their systems and networks which can be misused by cybercriminals.
- Assessing Security Controls. Network penetration testing can assist organizations to assess the quality of their existing security controls which will help them analyze the level of improvement better.
- Enhancing Security. As we know that pentesting helps organizations find vulnerabilities and assess security controls they can effectively improve their all-inclusive security posture.
- Compliance. Network penetration testing surely assists organizations comply with regulatory requirements. Due to this organizations can skip non-compliance penalties.
Conclusion
Network penetration testing is one of the crucial parts to secure an organization’s digital assets. The above-mentioned checklist includes steps to ensure not only the testing is done accurately but improvement of the system or network’s security is also enhanced by utilizing fitting recommendations. This checklist will help you conduct the network penetration testing in a well-controlled and systematic manner.
