Penetration Testing

Overview

Penetration testing (or pen testing) is a security exercise where a cyber-security expert attempts to find and exploit vulnerabilities in your network, systems and / or applications.

The purpose of this simulated attack is to identify any weak spots in a system’s defences which threat actors could take advantage of.

This is like a bank hiring someone to dress up as a burglar and try to break into their building and gain access to the vault.

If the ‘burglar’ successfully gains access to vault, then the bank gains valuable information too on how they can effectively tighten their security measures.

The best type of person to perform a pen test is an outside contractor (ethical hacker) with little-to-no prior knowledge of your organisation’s current cybersecurity defences.

Types

There are many types of pen tests including:

• Web app
• Network
• Wireless security
• Social engineering
• Infrastructure
• IoT or Internet of things
• PCI or Payment Card Industry

The main reason penetration tests are crucial to an organization’s security is that they help personnel learn how to handle any type of break-in from a malicious entity.

Benefits

Conducting regular pen testing provides these additional benefits too:

• Analysis of IT Infrastructure
• Protection from Financial Damage
• Protects Clientele and Partnerships
• Protects Company Image and Reputation
• Compliance with Regulation and Security Certification
• Peace of Mind …

Conducting a series of pen tests is also the best way to examine whether an organization’s security policies are genuinely effective!