Cyber Security Penetration Testing: Pen Testing

Protect Against Ransomware Attacks with a Vulnerability Scan & Pen Testing

CMS recommends healthcare organizations go beyond a Security Risk Analysis to have a third-party perform a Vulnerability Scan and Penetration Testing. This helps identify and mitigate additional issues to protect their network from breach and avoid financial risk to their organization moving forward.
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What is Penetration Testing?

1 Penetration testing (aka pen testing) is the practice of testing a computer system, web application, or network, to identify vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit. The end goal of penetration testing is to identify vulnerabilities in the system to provide recommendations for improving the system’s security posture.

3 Penetration testing is an integral part of a comprehensive security strategy, as it helps organizations identify and address existing and potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers. Pen Testing is used with other security management methods, such as intrusion detection systems, application and network firewalls, and secure coding practices.

2 Penetration testing involves simulating an attack on a system to determine whether it is possible to gain unauthorized access or otherwise compromise the system. Pen Testing involves multiple methods to attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities, as well as trying to find new ones. Pen testers use a variety of tools and techniques, usually the same or similar tools as hackers, to test the system’s defenses, including manual testing methods and automated scanning tools.

4 CMS recommends healthcare organizations go beyond a Security Risk Analysis to have a third-party perform a Vulnerability Scan and Penetration Testing. This testing helps identify and mitigate additional security issues to protect their network from a cybersecurity breach and avoid financial risk to their organization moving forward.

5 SecureVitality provides this penetration testing service to determine the vulnerabilities and threats posed by the use of computers and IT infrastructure at the Client. Specifically, is the organization’s computer system protected against Ransomware, Computer Hacking, threats and vulnerabilities typical in today’s daily use of computers in business?

CareVitality’s Penetration Testing and Security Vulnerabilities Scan Process

In order to better inform and recommend risk reduction, we provide the following:

Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities Discovery

Testing provides a detailed understanding of the infrastructure, processes and policies that subjects an organization to be vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks.

Vulnerability Scan

Testing can run internal tests and external tests on all appropriate devices, computers and all infrastructure, policies, processes to discover potential areas that can be compromised.

Penetration Testing

Pen testing simulates hacking from offsite locations, using the same tools hackers use in a cyberattacks

Security Risk Assessment

Determination of financial risk defined by threats and vulnerabilities identified in the pen tests and vulnerability scans.

Management Feedback & Consulting

SecureVitality will facilitate discussions with staff regarding what was found through these vulnerability scanning and pen testing processes.

During these processes, we will need to work with the o During these processes, we will need to work with the office staff and, if appropriate, the existing IT support personnel. The methods we use will be based on national standards such as HIPAA HITECH ACT, NIST, ISO 20001 and other in-dustry accepted best practices and standards.

Deliverables from SecureVitality’s IT Audit

Verbal & Written Reports of Pen Test Findings.
Management Reporting & Recommendations for Remediation
IT Cyber Security & Risk Assessment Report.
Plan for Recurring IT Cyber Security & IT Risk Assessment Auditing.

How a Pen Test Can Help Your Organization

P Penetration testing is important because you cannot protect your internet and digital assets if you do not know where your company’s vulnerabilities lie. Penetration Testing identifies those vulnerabilities and works to address them. CareVitality can provide the needed mitigation or work with your IT firm and confirm the fixes are completed to help you avoid a breach.

Pen Testing Tools Used

We use the standard penetration tools and methods used by white hat and black hat hackers.

What Are the Three Types of a Penetration Test?

Black Box Penetration Testing

In black box penetration testing or blind pen testing, the penetration tester’s assignment is to determine the real-world likelihood that the digital targets are secure to a hacker or cyber attack.

Grey Box Penetration Testing

In grey box penetration testing , ethical hackers are typically given a few details regarding the inner workings of the system's security program and then tries to access the system. This testing process emulates an attack by an outside hacker.

White Box Penetration Testing

White box penetration testing is when testing simulates a hacker who has complete knowledge of the network or system being attacked. This technique mimics the actions of a malevolent insider in a security attack.

The best vulnerability testing processes will include all three types of penetration tests which is what we do at SecureVitality.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Pen Testing is not the same as cybersecurity. Penetration testing is a type of cybersecurity testing.

A Pen Test is the process of determining actual security vulnerabilities and threats your IT infrastructure is exposed to by attempting to breach your current IT security using the same tools bad actors and hackers use. The pen testing methods, software and procedures are often the same attack methods, however, it is in your best interests to know your cyber security weaknesses before you are exploited by a bad actor.

Computer cyber security, (cybersecurity) is the protection of computer systems and networks from attack by malicious actors, various types of theft, network and system vulnerabilities, or damage to hardware, an application, software, or data, as well as from the disruption of online services.

Examples of penetration testing are as follows:

  • Using social engineering methods to gain access to the building, network, access systems and databases.
  • Sending of phishing emails to staff to access critical assets on the network
  • Accessing a system’s unencrypted passwords and proving how important information or data is vulnerable to a security breach.
  • Scanning for devices not configured such as improper network protocols (like HTTP vs HTTPS) or software no longer safe to use.
  • Penetrating your WiFi by encrypting the WiFi password, then accessing your IT network.
  • Getting user passwords either from the user or by scanning their devices with pen testing tools that emulate tools used by hackers.

All of these indicate cyber security weaknesses in the IT infrastructure that can be potentially discovered in a pen test.

We do periodic penetration testing to determine security weakness since security vulnerability can change in minutes to hours, whereas general IT support issues are typically resolved in days to weeks. Automated penetration testing tools and methods may be used for this periodic testing. Pen testing is the most rigorous method of exposing potential security vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
The first step is to do a network discovery because you cannot test what you do not know you have. Using multiple methods of scanning such as network, user, device, patch and update, port and device address, and many other methods, we accumulate data as determined by the engagement parameters. Then we provide a report of the security pen testing results. If agreed upon, a risk analysis can be provided, recommendations for remediation and work orders can be created for whomever will provide remediation. This may or may not be repeated after pen testing to create before and after remediation confirmation. The tools used are often the same as those used by hackers in addition to using specific vulnerability scanning tools, hardware, software, methods and procedures used by security professionals above and beyond what hackers would use.
  • Staff not having cybersecurity awareness regarding, email and web access, especially on vulnerable networks
  • Infrastructure misconfiguration – Network configuration, IP addresses, devices, firewalls, device configuration, WiFi access and Internet Of Things configurations
  • Failure to keep systems patched and software updated opens protection to Zero day exploits
  • Lack of suitable Endpoint Protection (remote access, laptop, data protection).
  • Malware, Antivirus, Spyware, Trojans, Worms, etc.
  • Physical & Human Engineering issues Configurations, Cameras, User card access, and staff awareness of user access
The risks of penetration testing are relatively low. The pen testers’ goal is to achieve proof without destruction. An example of a penetration test would be to show access with screenshots or the execution of harmlessly opening an application or program, such as Word or Notepad as part of the vulnerability assessment. In complete contrast, malware, ransomware or hackers care about stealing your information or assets or conducting some illegal action which often causes great harm. The methods, procedures and tools for both are often the same but the penetration tester intends to do no harm.

“Many people may use the terms vulnerability, threat and risk interchangeably. However, in the cybersecurity world, these terms have distinct and specific meanings.

A VULNERABILITY is a weakness that can be exploited by a malicious actor. For example, unpatched software or overly permissive accounts can provide a gateway for cybercriminals to access the network and gain a foothold within the IT environment.

A THREAT is a malicious act that can exploit a security vulnerability.

A RISK is what happens when a cyber threat exploits a vulnerability. It represents the damage that could be caused to the organization in the event of a cyberattack. “ – Crowdstrike.com 2022

Cyber security testers use the same methodologies and tactics as hackers. The objective of security testing is to measure how effective your cyber security strategy is against a potential attack.

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