What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing, often referred to as pen testing or ethical hacking, is a simulated cyber attack against a computer system, network, or web application. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.
Often performed by cybersecurity specialists, penetration testing is typically considered an integral part of the software development life cycle. It is employed to identify and rectify weaknesses in software systems, whether they're currently in use or in the development phase. The primary tools used for this process are penetration testing software and vulnerability scanners.
Types of penetration testing
Depending on what penetration testing is being used for, one of a few different types of penetration testing will be utilized.
- Network testing: In the context of penetration testing, network testing involves identifying vulnerabilities in network infrastructure such as servers, hosts, and network devices like routers and switches.
- Application testing: This type of pen test involves testing applications to discover potential weaknesses that could be exploited via injection attacks, cross-site scripting, or other techniques.
- Social engineering: This type of penetration testing involves attempting to exploit human vulnerabilities, such as employees being tricked into revealing sensitive information. These tests can be performed via employee messaging channels to gather intelligence on what types of fake emails and messages are most effective.
Benefits of using penetration testing
Implementing regular penetration tests can bring a host of benefits to any organization.
- Risk mitigation: Penetration testing allows organizations to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, thus minimizing the risk of breaches. Once vulnerabilities are found, companies can then work to resolve those weak points in their systems.
- Compliance assurance: Regular pen testing helps businesses stay compliant with security regulations and standards. As standards change in response to new cyberattack methods, penetration testing helps companies maintain compliance and keep risk low.
- Trust building: Regular and thorough penetration tests increase customer trust, as they are a vital part of a wider commitment to security. Customers who know their data is in responsible hands are more inclined to do business with vendors.
- Cost savings: Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early in the software development life cycle can help save substantial costs that might occur due to potential breaches in the future. The amount of time and effort saved by stopping attacks before they happen makes an investment in quality penetration software worth it.
- Remediation: Penetration testing goes beyond simply identifying vulnerabilities. Most penetration testing solutions also provide actionable remediation tips to help companies get started on addressing weak points.
Basic elements of penetration testing
The exact methods for penetration testing in cybersecurity can vary, but a complete penetration test will include the following elements:
- Planning and preparation: Here, the scope and goals of the test are defined, the testing methods are selected, and any necessary permissions are set. Cybersecurity professionals also set the parameters for the test, including the systems to be tested and the testing techniques to be used. Most penetration testing software allows users to set these parameters for automated reuse.
- Reconnaissance: Also known as discovery or information gathering, reconnaissance involves collecting as much information as possible about the test’s target system, network, or application. This includes analyzing system configurations, identifying IP addresses, and understanding the system's functionalities and potential vulnerabilities.
- Scanning: Testers often use vulnerability scanning, static analysis, and dynamic analysis to reveal how an application behaves while running. Initial code analysis can identify vulnerabilities before even conducting a pen test.
- Gaining access: Once information gathering and scanning are complete, the penetration tester (or automated software) attempts to exploit any discovered vulnerabilities to break into the system. This can take the form of data breaches, interrupting or intercepting network traffic, escalating privileges, and more.
- Maintaining access: Penetration testers and automated pen test software will try to remain within a system undetected to mimic a potential persistent threat. The goal is to see if the intrusion goes unnoticed and for how long.
- Analysis and reporting: After the penetration test is complete, a detailed report is created, which outlines the vulnerabilities discovered, the success rate of exploitation attempts, the data that was accessed, and the length of time the tester was able to remain in the system undetected. The report will also typically include recommendations for remediating the identified risks and vulnerabilities.
Penetration testing best practices
Penetration testing should be conducted with precision, regularity, and a thorough understanding of potential threats. It should not only identify vulnerabilities but also come with clear, actionable advice on how to remediate them.
To maximize the effectiveness of penetration testing, users can follow these best practices:
- Utilize appropriate tools: A wide array of penetration testing tools exist, each with its own features applicable to certain use cases. Organizations should compare software using G2.com and other methods to find the best solution for their needs.
- Regular testing: Penetration testing should be conducted regularly to ensure up-to-date compliance and risk mitigation. Software systems and networks are constantly undergoing change, which comes with new potential risks. Beyond that, new types of cyberattacks trend as time goes on. Companies need to conduct tests frequently or risk falling behind on security.
- Comprehensive reporting: Penetration tests are only as useful as the insights companies can glean from them. It’s not enough to know that a system is vulnerable. Having specific details on vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and recommended remediation strategies is essential to maintaining secure systems.
Penetration testing vs. vulnerability scanning
While penetration testing and vulnerability scanning both aim to identify a system’s security weaknesses, they differ in approach and depth. Penetration testing simulates an attack on the system to exploit vulnerabilities and assess their impact. Vulnerability scanning is often part of penetration testing.
On its own, vulnerability scanning involves automatically identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing the vulnerabilities in a system, typically without taking any further action beyond providing remediation suggestions.
Learn how you can become a certified ethical hacker with this CEH study guide.
Adam Crivello
Adam is a research analyst focused on dev software. He started at G2 in July 2019 and leverages his background in comedy writing and coding to provide engaging, informative research content while building his software expertise. In his free time he enjoys cooking, playing video games, writing and performing comedy, and avoiding sports talk.
