Every day, the escalating threat of hackers grows more grave. According to a TechRepublic survey of over 400 IT security experts, 71% have seen a rise in security threats and assaults since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When a hacker breaches your security successfully, he/she may severely impact your reputation, results, and operational capabilities.
You must consider different types of penetration tests to evaluate your cybersecurity defenses in your valuable IT systems to identify vulnerabilities.
Let us review some additional details on this topic.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing may be described by the goals it is intended to achieve. This includes all networks, software, devices, and additional security elements. It imitates the actions of cybercriminals, but helps with the cyber defenses of the company.
Experienced cybersecurity professionals use penetration testing to strengthen a company’s security posture and eliminate flaws that make it vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Learn more here
Types of Penetration Testing
Network vulnerabilities are usually divided into three categories: software, hardware, and human. Learn more about what a pen test involves and the potential vulnerabilities the company can face with different types of penetration testing!
1. Network services Penetration Testing
In the world of pen testing, this is considered the most popular and most in-demand test to perform for a customer. This method of testing entails locating security flaws and vulnerabilities in a company’s network infrastructure. This test can be performed locally at the place of business or even remotely.
Network penetration tests should be carried out to protect your company from popular network-based attacks, such as:
- IPS/IDS evasion attacks
- Router attacks
- SSH attacks
- Proxy server attacks
- DNS level attacks:
- Zone transfer attacks
- Switching or routing based attacks
- Avoidable open ports attacks
- Database attacks
- Man in the middle (MITM) attacks
- FTP/SMTP based attacks
Since a network delivers mission-critical services to a company, all internal and external network penetration testing should be conducted at least once a year. This will ensure that the company is well protected against these vulnerabilities.
2. Web Applications Pen Testing
Web App Penetration Tests look for vulnerabilities in an application that an attacker could use. API components, services calls, ActiveX, Silverlight, Java Applets, and other application components are all examined in this type of testing.
These tests are much more rigorous and specific, and as a result, they are considered more complex. To achieve a successful test, the access points of every web-based application that connects with the user daily must be specified. From preparation to conducting the test to compiling a valuable report, this test requires a significant amount of work and time.
One may question why should you perform a web application test? It is because it is essential for identifying security flaws in web-based applications and their elements, such as the database, source code, and back-end network. It helps in dealing with web application vulnerabilities like:
- Injection flaws
- Weak session management
- Cross-site request forgery
- Cross-site scripting
- Malware infection
3. Client-side Penetration Testing
Client-side penetration testing is used to find security flaws or vulnerabilities in client-side servers. This may include email clients, putty, web browsers (such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and others), Macromedia Flash, etc. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop and the Microsoft Office Suite are also tested.
This test helps to avoid cyberattacks like,
- Clickjacking Attacks
- Form Hijacking
- HTML Injection
- Open Redirection
4. Wireless Penetration Testing
Wireless penetration monitoring includes locating and inspecting all equipment attached to the business’s Wi-Fi network. Such devices include laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other IoT devices. Most wireless tests are performed at the client site since the Pen Testing devices must be close to the cellular network transmissions.
Wireless networks enable data to flow in and out of the network invisibly hence, it is a convenient medium to exploit and, this is why it is critical to perform the wireless penetration test. Once tested, any flaws in this wireless network, such as unauthorized access or data leakage, must be addressed.
5. Social Engineering Penetration Testing
A malicious attacker uses social engineering to convince or manipulate people into providing personal information such as a username and password.
For Social Engineering penetration testing, there are two kinds of subtests that may be conducted:
- Remote testing: It entails tricking an employee into revealing confidential information over the internet. This is often done in conjunction with the development and deployment of a phishing email campaign.
- Physical testing:This requires gathering classified information through the use of a physical means or appearance. Dumpster diving, impersonation, insulting and persuasive phone calls, etc. are examples of this category.
Learn more about penetration testing here
RogueLogics – Penetration Testing Experts!
Rogue Logics provides unparalleled security services in penetration testing and other cybersecurity services. Contact our team today and take control over the company’s protection by fixing vulnerabilities before they transform into the source of a major data breach or other cyber-attacks!
Rogue Logics provides in-depth security services for the assessment and protection of your application, data, and infrastructure against potential threats on-prem or in the cloud.
Want a consultation with the professionals at Rogue Logics, contact us and get a free quote.