What is Pen Testing (Penetration Testing) for Security?

What is Pen Testing (Security Penetration Testing)?

Penetration Testing is the process of determining your security vulnerabilities by emulating an attack by a hacker, ransomware, malware, or any bad actor.

Essentially pen testing is a non-destructive emulated attack on your company’s digital assets. This process is intended to find and demonstrate the business impacts of the weaknesses in your computer system, infrastructure systems and online presence. If successful, the test will penetrate your system, expose the vulnerabilities and show how your assets can be exfiltrated, typically due to insufficient computer security. The pen-tester uses the same tools, non-destructively, to challenge your computer security system the same way Hackers do. If the penetration testing can access your assets then so can a hacker.

This security testing process is non-destructive and intended to duplicate, depending on your concerns, target any or all your computer systems vulnerabilities from your firewall, wireless workstation, server, online credentials, websites, cloud access security, cloud services and data, email, Wi-Fi and physical structure weaknesses, company policies and passwords from inside your office network to anywhere in the world.

A properly conducted pen test is your best determination of the security level of your digital assets and how to reduce your risk, threat, and vulnerabilities due to actual computer security. The approach to finding vulnerabilities that penetration testing takes is very different from the computer security system protection that is your IT support staff’s approach. The penetration tester emulates a hacker who only needs to be right once to thwart your information system security, whereas the IT staff must always have the correct protective security for your system. The IT staff’s personnel have many activities to perform, most of which are not changing as quickly as do security vulnerabilities. Performing periodic penetration testing will help the IT staff to see where these vulnerabilities are so they can better protect the company’s security.

What Are the Stages of Penetration Testing?

Pre-engagement
The test scope is addressed, defined, and the final objectives of the pen test are assessed and established at this point. The types of testing activities will be decided during this step, which is crucial for a competent and successful assessment of all system vulnerabilities.
Information gathering
In order to learn as much as possible about the target systems, reconnaissance is carried out. The types of attack vectors that will be used in the pen test are then determined by this data. Knowledge of cybersecurity and open-source information hacker tools begin to make a difference in analyzing your infrastructure.
Vulnerability assessment
This stage of information gathering uses both passive techniques and aggressive scans to find every security hole in the target networks, systems, and application security (where applicable).
Exploitation
The previous phase's weaknesses are now being exploited in an effort to get access through an attack of the system vulnerabilities. The pen tester's wisdom and resourcefulness are put to use in this process, which may involve a combination of ready-made and custom pen testing tools to complete the security testing.
Post-exploitation
Here, the value of the compromised targets is evaluated on their own terms and as chances to increase privileges and change systems with higher value. Importantly, compromised targets will be stripped of any tools used during the exploitation phase to make sure that the pen test operations don't damage security.
Reporting
The secret to obtaining high value out of a pentesting engagement is having a solid report accompanied with a clear short Executive Summary which keeps the technical terminology to a minimum. The Executive Summary and Technical detail parts of our reports contain vital remediation guidance. The Executive Summary provides a focused RISK analysis providing the decision maker a single table indicating critical to low assigned values. This presents clear actionable points in order to understand your risk and let you decide which system vulnerabilities to take action on.

What Pen Testing Tools Are Typically Used?

Pen testers are typically security professionals that have extensive technical experience and may have a certification in Ethical Hacking. They use a range of tools depending on the engagement requirements. The majority of the tools and procedures are identical to those used by hackers. These include industry tool kits that typically have over 2000 current vulnerabilities identified and are used by 300-400 software programs used to train security professionals as well as by hackers.

There is a large body of automated pen testing tools, hardware products, and many industry resources that provide up-to-date vulnerability listings as well as proof of concept (how to use a specific vulnerability to exploit firewalls, computers, servers, Wi-Fi, cell phones, networks, web sites, keyboards, thumb drives, cloud services and configuration), line of business software, and remote access methods to name a few target vectors. In the case where a specific web-site or application program requires pen testing, there are specific processes and software tools to do this.

In addition, there is human engineering. This portion of penetration testing is the process of persuading or tricking a human to allow or provide information to access a secure place or thing, such as access to a building, computer, email, website, or data.

What Vulnerabilities Can a Penetration Tests Uncover?

This is a partial list of possible vulnerabilities that a test can uncover:
Passwords - easy to crack, no password at all, reused, easily discovered in the work area, or available due to users saving passwords on the computer or in the browser without proper ​​computer system security.
Patch Management weakness. operating system or applications not up to date, thus reducing application security.
Unsupported legacy software - subject to exploitation since it is no longer updated.
Insecure in-house or custom software.
Website vulnerabilities, especially an Internet accessible platform or company databases.
Lack of user awareness of security policy, safe Internet usage, password protection, attacker tricks and common exploits such as ransomware, business email compromise or email phishing.
Insecure setup or configuration of firewalls, security software, network, devices, servers, Wi-Fi devices, printers, cloud security configuration, physical building security systems not configured or improperly maintained, and software.
Improper setup, configuration or lack of encryption and authentication.
Website hacking exposure. This includes database and application exposure to code and command injection. This is due to lack of inclusion of security considerations and inclusion of best practices during programming or installation, configuration and software security testing of software products. In addition, lack of site certification (proper CA- Certificate of Authority) which is required for HTTPS secure encrypted user access on a web site.
Lack of proper security design of Website session management, database passwords and cookie protection.
Network firewall exposure of inappropriate or insecure open ports.
Insecure Firewall configuration as well as insure VPN protocols.
Insecure internal attack security such as improper sharing of company digital assets through improper active directory configuration.
Lack of administrator passwords on devices such as printers, line of business devices, healthcare devices, cloud services, web site databases, and credit card readers.
Workstation, laptop and cell phone weakness regarding malware, antivirus and current technology endpoint protection being missing or out of date.
Physical access to the building or office is not configured, managed, or maintained securely.
Website or public announcements that expose internal security information such as how the organization secures their data, assets and user information in order to assure the public exactly how they are protected by device description and methods. This has been used frequently in some of the largest network and information hacks on the Internet.
Lack of or improper data backup subjects company assets to easy loss in the case of system failure. In the case of a ransomware attack, this can complicate recovery since the hackers might know you must pay them because you have no backup of the data.
Legacy hardware that is unable to be secured.
Dormant or Unused Servers, workstations, devices, data. Many companies move to the cloud, leaving valuable customer or client information locally. Should an attack or breach happen, this information is not accessible on the network unless managed properly. In addition, the least used computer devices are the favorite home for hackers since they are least likely to be noticed on the device.

How Does Penetration Testing Help with Security and Compliance?

It is likely that if you conduct the appropriate penetration tests that the security issues for your specific compliance will have been already assessed and remediated. In simple terms, if you have conducted a penetration test, it is likely you have covered the security requirements for most industry security compliances. There are exceptions, but they are industry specific. It is most likely that the penetration testing will cover more security issues than your compliance requires.

Most compliance in the United State is a subset of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These standards are a reference point for most industries, if not all, IT security requirements. The NIST standards are continuously being improved and updated. The NIST Framework’s recommendations are used by all federal agencies including the CISA, FBI, Homeland Security, Defense Department, HHS and are the superset for most industry standards. Penetration testing and third-party auditing are mentioned in NIST. Pentesting is also part of most industry standards since they too must include federal requirements where appropriate. In order to have the most comprehensive security awareness and thus protection, penetration testing is the best method to confirm an infrastructure or service vulnerability. Penetration testing will, with some exceptions, eclipse the requirements for most issues of security compliance standards.

Why is pen testing important to perform?

Penetration testing is important because you cannot protect your assets if you do not know what your weaknesses are.

Penetration testing is an ethical way of determining realistically how vulnerable you are to being attacked by a hacker or malware as much as possible. If you want to know explicitly where your system weaknesses really are, then conduct an IT audit, including multiple vulnerability scans and a range of penetration tests periodically. These tests should be analyzed by experienced IT security professionals. Then use these results to update your infrastructure, policies, and procedures to improve compliance in order to maintain a mature cybersecurity hygiene.

Penetration test services will reduce your system’s vulnerability to attack, increase customer confidence, boost company morale, protect your network assets, ensure application security and help in maintaining system compliance. The overall result will likely improve your quality of life and your bottom line.

By doing consistent pen testing, businesses can obtain expert, unbiased third-party feedback on their security processes. Though potentially time-consuming and costly, pen testing can help prevent extremely expensive and damaging breaches.

Cisco Systems

A crucial aspect of managing a contemporary organization is doing regular penetration tests

Pen testing has become a top priority for companies of all sizes as a result of the continually rising number of cyberattacks in all markets and industries.
As a result of this, pen testing is now a part of the security requirements for obtaining and maintaining secure corporate risk processes.

Pen testing can help your network stay safe from cyber hackers and also maintain client trust in your business or organization. Regular penetration testing from a credible company like SecureVitality suggests to customers that they can put their trust in you with their data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, if there is an agreement to conduct the tests between the pen tester and the owner of the target vector then security pen testing is legal.

In simple terms, in the USA hacking is illegal without consent, presumably for the purpose of conducting pentesting on an entities’ security. As an Ethical Hacker, this is one of two ways hacking is legal. The other is as an employee or contractor of the Federal Government, and then only when following the strict and legitimate governmental guidelines.

Pen testing is both ethical and legal providing that the company or person contracting the penetration test has agreed to have the test conducted according to the contractual agreements.

“The phrase “computer hacking” normally refers to illegally using a computer to make an attempt to access another computer without consent to cause harm or commit fraud”.

Most federal computer hacking charges are prosecuted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. 18 U.S.C. § 1030. Four states have some hacking laws. California has a new law which is similar to the British GDPR.

The Federal law covers many different types of computer crimes and this statute is often used by federal prosecutors.

Computer hacking can be prosecuted at both the state and federal level.
Scanning is one of possible harmful hacking subtopics that currently is illegal, however, scanning a computer’s ports could cause harm, which could be illegal.

Basically, a penetration tester typically takes extreme steps to do no harm, however any potential harm must be disclosed and approved as part of the original engagement contract for penetration testing services.

Ref: nmap.org, https://nmap.org/book/legal-issues.html

A network pen test is an internal penetration test assuming that a hacker has already breached the perimeter. This would include vulnerability scanning, penetration testing and security awareness auditing. It is essentially a white box test for an internal infrastructure.

The last stage of a penetration test is retesting the results of remuneration from the previous penetration audit test and starting all over again. There is a period of time determined by management after submission of the report and time to resolve and remediate vulnerabilities. This is actually Life Cycle Cybersecurity auditing and Penetration Testing.

The last stage of a penetration test is retesting the results of remuneration from the previous penetration audit test and starting all over again. There is a period of time determined by management after submission of the report and time to resolve and remediate vulnerabilities. This is actually Life Cycle Cybersecurity auditing and Penetration Testing.

Typically, the required man hours for penetration testing can be one to three weeks but the time from RFP to final reporting can be as long as 1-3 months.

Pen Test Program Metrics
  1. An organization should apply security fixes and vulnerabilities across the entire company’s portfolio.
  2. Frequency: Minimally conduct penetration testing once a quarter.
  3. Critical vulnerabilities and threats should be resolved as soon as possible after the test.
Pen Test Engagement Metrics
  1. Talent Ratings: The most important attributes of any security researcher are their skillset and rich experience. You want a penetration tester to have skill sets that are matched to your needs. The pen tester should have many years of professional experience in IT with a current specialty in conducting penetration tests.
  2. Vulnerability Types: Notice the vulnerability types identified in the penetration testing. By analyzing what kind of vulnerabilities, you have discovered you can better predict where your weaknesses are and find the tools to fix them.
  3. Focus on the Critical but do not ignore the rest: Some penetration testing findings are more critical than others.
  4. Wash and repeat periodically by scheduling pen tests on a recurring basis.
Yes. No different than any other device. However, the telephone voice portion of a cell phone can be legally handled differently (questionably depending on the locality) by local law enforcement than a land line. Mobile calls are free in the air, land lines need to be authorized by the court.
Blind pen testing is commonly called black box penetration testing which we have discussed above.
Scanning is done after at the initial phase after the infrastructure or cloud is discovered and authentication is available to the pen tester. This is typically the enumeration of addresses and devices. Vulnerability scans take place later. External penetration testing happens at the end of scanning.

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