With the rise in complex cyber threats, it’s crucial to make sure your company’s security is top-notch. A great way to do this is by conducting a penetration test, or ‘pentest’. But what does this mean, and what can your company anticipate during one? In this easy-to-understand guide, we’ll walk you through the whole pentesting procedure, offering straightforward and thorough explanations to help you sail through it effortlessly.
What is a Penetration Test?
A penetration test, commonly referred to as a pentest, is a simulated cyber attack against your company’s systems, networks, or applications. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that malicious hackers could exploit. Think of it as a proactive measure to uncover and fix security weaknesses before they can be exploited by real attackers.
The Penetration Testing Process: Step-by-Step
The following steps are a very simplified overview of what to expect from a Penetration Test (Pentest):
1. Scoping and Planning
Before the pentest begins, there’s a crucial phase of scoping and planning. During this phase, you will discuss with the pentesting team to determine the test’s objectives, scope, and rules of engagement. Key considerations include:
- Objectives: Understanding what you aim to achieve, such as testing specific applications, networks, or compliance with security standards.
- Scope: Defining which systems, networks, and applications will be tested.
- Rules of Engagement: Establishing guidelines on what methods the testers can use and any constraints to ensure business operations are not disrupted.
2. Vulnerability Analysis
Once the scope is defined, the pentesters proceed to identify potential vulnerabilities. They use automated tools and manual techniques to scan your systems for common and uncommon security flaws. This phase involves leveraging industry-standard tools such as Burp Suite and Nessus, and focusing on known vulnerability lists like the OWASP Top Ten. Key activities include:
- Automated Scanning: Using tools like Nessus to perform comprehensive scans for unpatched software, misconfigurations, weak passwords, and unsecured data transmissions.
- Manual Testing: Employing Burp Suite to manually test for complex vulnerabilities in web applications, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and full testing of the OWASP testing guide which covers all of the most common vulnerabilities.
- Analysis of Results: Interpreting the results from these tools to identify which vulnerabilities are most critical and need immediate attention.
3. Exploitation
During the exploitation phase, the pentesters attempt to exploit the identified vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access to your systems. The aim is to determine the extent of the potential damage an actual attacker could cause. This phase can involve:
- Network attacks: Gaining access to internal networks.
- Web application attacks: Exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
Depending on the defined scope, it can also include:
- Social engineering: Trick employees into revealing sensitive information.
4. Post-Exploitation and Reporting
Once the exploitation phase is complete, the pentesters move to the post-exploitation phase. Here, they document their findings and the potential impact of the vulnerabilities they exploited. They will then compile a comprehensive report detailing:
- Vulnerabilities discovered
- Methods used to exploit them
- Potential impact on the business
- Recommendations for remediation
This report is vital for your IT team to understand what needs to be fixed and how to prevent future attacks.
5. Remediation and Re-testing
After receiving the report, your company should prioritise fixing the identified vulnerabilities. This may involve:
- Applying patches and updates
- Reconfiguring systems
- Enhancing security policies
Once the vulnerabilities have been addressed, a re-test is often conducted to ensure that the issues have been resolved and no new vulnerabilities have been introduced.
What to Expect from a Penetration Test?
Time Commitment
A typical pentest can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the scope and complexity of the systems being tested. It is crucial to allocate sufficient time for both the testing and remediation phases.
Disruption to Operations
While pentesters strive to minimise disruption, some tests, particularly those involving exploitation, may cause minor disruptions. It’s essential to plan for this and ensure that critical operations are safeguarded. It should be noted here that although disruptions may happen, they are uncommon and should not be a reason to forego a penetration test.
Actionable Insights
The final report from the pentest will provide detailed, actionable insights into your company’s security posture. It will not only highlight vulnerabilities but also offer specific recommendations for improvement.
Enhanced Security Posture
Ultimately, the primary benefit of a pentest is a significantly enhanced security posture. By addressing the vulnerabilities identified, your company will be better protected against cyber threats.
Conclusion
Undergoing a penetration test is a critical step in securing your company’s digital assets. By understanding what to expect during the pentesting process, you can better prepare and ensure that the exercise yields valuable insights and improvements. Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and regular pentesting should be an integral part of your security strategy.