Penetration testing (Pentest): Advantages, types & prevention of cyberattacks
Penetration testing: Typical advantages & prevention of cyberattacks
Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated, exposing businesses to a high risk of sensitive data breaches. To mitigate this, penetration testing is an essential tool for assessing the security of your IT system.
Penetration tests, also known as pentesting, are IT security assessments used to identify vulnerabilities in a system or network. Penetration tests can be performed in various ways depending on the company's needs and objectives.
Penetration tests can be performed on an ad-hoc or recurring basis to ensure ongoing security. Using a pentesting-as-a-service (pentest-as-a-service) approach can offer a more cost-effective and standardized method for these tests.
In this article we discuss IT security assessment through penetration testing and its role in identifying vulnerabilities and security flaws.
Why are penetration tests so important?
The advantages of penetration testing are numerous, as it allows for the detection of security vulnerabilities before a malicious actor discovers and exploits them. By identifying vulnerabilities and potential risks, penetration testing improves the security of IT systems and reduces the risk of attacks.
Penetration testing also allows you to assess a system's resilience to a real attack, enabling you to identify weaknesses and strengthen your system's overall security. It also helps you comply with IT security regulations, especially for businesses that handle sensitive or confidential data.
On the other hand, the absence of penetration testing can have significant consequences for your business by making IT systems more vulnerable to external or internal attacks through access to confidential data and its exploitation for malicious purposes.
Failure to conduct penetration testing can also render a company non-compliant with IT security regulations, which can lead to potentially significant financial penalties.
The different types of penetration testing
External penetration test:
THE external pentesting This is carried out from outside the company, by simulating a cyberattack. Penetration testers seek to exploit system vulnerabilities accessible from the internet.
Their goal? To detect potential vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit to infiltrate the system. External penetration testing is useful for identifying weaknesses in your company's online security.
Internal penetration test:
The internal penetration test is performed from the company's internal network, simulating an attack from a malicious employee or a user with access to certain parts of the system.
The testers attempt to determine if vulnerabilities can be exploited from the internal network. Internal penetration testing is essential for assessing your company's resilience against attacks from malicious employees or unauthorized users.
Application penetration testing:
Application penetration testing is designed to evaluate the security of web or mobile applications developed by your company.
Testers attempt to discover vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain access to the application. Application penetration testing is useful for detecting security flaws in your applications before attackers can exploit them.
IoT Pentest:
IoT penetration testing is a specific security assessment for connected objects (IoT) such as surveillance cameras, thermostats, or smart lights. Testers attempt to discover vulnerabilities in the hardware, firmware, and communication protocol.
IoT penetration testing is useful for identifying potential weaknesses in your company's connected devices.
Mobile pentesting:
Mobile penetration testing is a specific type of intrusion test for mobile applications developed by your company. Testers aim to identify security vulnerabilities in mobile applications across various platforms, such as Android and iOS. Mobile penetration testing is useful for detecting vulnerabilities in mobile applications before they can be exploited by hackers.
Why are penetration tests so important?
The advantages of penetration testing are numerous, as it allows for the detection of security vulnerabilities before a malicious actor discovers and exploits them. By identifying vulnerabilities and potential risks, penetration testing improves the security of IT systems and reduces the risk of attacks.
Penetration testing also allows you to assess a system's resilience to a real attack, enabling you to identify weaknesses and strengthen your system's overall security. It also helps you comply with IT security regulations, especially for businesses that handle sensitive or confidential data.
On the other hand, the absence of penetration testing can have significant consequences for your business by making IT systems more vulnerable to external or internal attacks through access to confidential data and its exploitation for malicious purposes.
Failure to conduct penetration testing can also render a company non-compliant with IT security regulations, which can lead to potentially significant financial penalties.
How does a penetration test work?
1) Preparation
Before we begin the penetration test, It is important to define the objectives and attack scenarios to be simulated. It is also essential to define the rules of engagement to ensure that the tests do not interfere with the company's daily operations or cause any damage.
2) Information gathering
Information gathering is an important step for a penetration test successful. It involves gathering information about the targeted system, network, or application, as well as about the company in general. This step may include searching for publicly available information about the company, such as its organizational structure, technological infrastructure, and suppliers, as well as gathering information about the systems and applications used by the company.
3) Vulnerability analysis
Once all the information has been collected, the team penetration testing can perform a vulnerability analysis. This analysis is carried out using automated and manual tools to identify security vulnerabilities on the targeted system, network, or application.
4) Exploitation of vulnerabilities
Once the vulnerabilities were identified, the team of penetration test may attempt to exploit them to gain access to the targeted system, network, or application. This step is performed with great care to avoid any damage to the system or application.
5) Report and recommendations
Once the penetration test Once the assessment is complete, the penetration testing team prepares a detailed report on the results. The report includes a description of all identified vulnerabilities, along with recommendations for remediating them. The report may also include recommendations for strengthening existing security mechanisms and guidance on improving the company's security practices.
Conclusion :
Penetration testing are essential to ensuring the security of your business. By using the different types of penetration tests available and opting for a service of penetration testing as a service, You can effectively protect your computer system against cyberattacks.
For any information or request for an Intrusion Test, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Intrinsec, our business? Protecting yours!
Intrinsec, a pure-play cybersecurity company in France for over 28 years, is one of the main players in its field.
Building on its historical assessment activity, Intrinsec adapts to the needs and challenges of its clients, to face increasingly sophisticated threats by offering tailor-made support through one of the broadest cyber assessment offerings, including penetration tests (pentest), cybersecurity audits, Red Teams, Trophy Hunters and Purple Teams.
Intrinsec is also a leading player in the valuation sector in France, with expertise recognized by its numerous qualifications, including PASSI RGS (certificate no. 20007) and PASSI LPM (qualification decision no. 5685) for its organizational and physical auditing, configuration, architecture, source code and penetration testing activities.
The security and protection of your business are our top priorities. That's why Intrinsec is committed to providing high-quality services while guaranteeing optimal protection for your information system.
