TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What is Network Penetration Testing?
- Why Network Penetration Testing Matters?
- How Network Penetration Testing Works?
- Types of Network Penetration Testing
- Common Network Vulnerabilities Identified During Testing
- Network Penetration Testing Methodology
- How to Select the Best Network Penetration Testing Service Provider
- The Future Trends in Network Security and Penetration Testing
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
A network is an important part of any online business, representing its backbone. Yet, the interrelatedness of these systems puts them at cyber risk. Security through network penetration testing is one of the most decisive mechanisms for securing the network. According to Forbes’ recommendations, cumulative costs of cyber-criminal activities will hit $10.5 billion by 2025. Research indicates that a hefty 54% of cyberattacks target networks and their applications, which is expected to increase in the years ahead.
This blog will provide an in-depth guide to Network Security Assessment, with detailed explanations. Consequently, you will get a quick idea of network penetration testing and why you must invest in this sphere.
What is Network Penetration Testing?
Network penetration testing, or pentesting, is an active network security procedure used to test network security. It requires simulations of cyberattacks on an organization’s network to identify and exploit network infrastructure weaknesses.
Network penetration testing exposes exposure points and enables organizations to shore up their defenses for potential threats. Network penetration testing is generally used as part of automated penetration testing to imitate attacks and discover exploitable weaknesses in network protection.
Why Network Penetration Testing Matters?
Network penetration testing is significant because it will uncover security faults and discourage cyber attackers from utilizing these weak areas. With this approach, companies can expose, define, and sequence network risks for mitigation and improvement activities that subsequently assist them in mitigating risks, maintaining compliance, and securing ongoing operations. Therefore, the security team must always conduct network security testing in a constantly changing threat environment for effective network security.
How Network Penetration Testing Works?
The network penetration testing process details several broad steps in discovering and exploiting network vulnerabilities. The process involves five separate steps:
1. Planning and Reconnaissance
This initial phase determines a test’s scope and objectives, the systems to address, and the testing methods to apply. Next, penetration testers collect intelligence, including network and domain names, IP addresses, etc., to guide them in knowing potential vulnerabilities.
2. Scanning
Experts use tools to scan the network’s infrastructure to locate live systems, open ports, and accessible services.
3. Gaining Access
Through the use of web application attacks, it is possible to identify the weaknesses in a network. Besides, testers aim to exploit vulnerabilities, such as stealing data and intercepting traffic.
4. Maintaining Access
This step aims to see whether the testers can use the network vulnerability assessment services to perpetuate a persistent threat, and in the exploited system, is present for months to gather sensitive data.
5. Analysis
Finally, a report is generated describing diverse security vulnerabilities. This includes the data types accessed, the duration the tester remained undetected in the system, and other things.
Types of Network Penetration Testing
Network penetration testing allows tracking down security holes in an organization’s network infrastructure. There are various forms of network penetration testing:
1. External Testing
Targeted public systems like websites, firewalls, and servers identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities that hackers could use outside the network.
2. Internal Testing
Generates an attack using internal network access and determines the point at which an insider or a compromised user can access sensitive data and systems.
3. Blind Testing
A minimal amount of information is fed into the tester, simulating a real attack to test the abilities of an organization regarding detection and response.
4. Double Blind Testing
Neither the testers nor the security team has prior knowledge of the test, which represents a real-world situation in which to test incident response.
5. Targeted Testing
The tester and the security team merge and share information, providing great insights into how attacks are detected and prevented.
Common Network Vulnerabilities Identified During Testing
In network testing, six common vulnerabilities generally emerge. They include poor passwords that are easy to guess for attackers.
Weak Passwords
Suggestive credentials give unauthorized access.
Unpatched Software
Systems are susceptible to known exploits because of missing updates.
Open Ports
Unauthorized ports can put sensitive services at risk of external danger.
Misconfigured Firewalls
Wrong settings can allow dangerous traffic to access the network.
Outdated Encryption
Implementation of decrepit protocols compromises data security.
Absence of Segmentation in a Network
Flat networks spread attacks within the network.
Network Penetration Testing Methodology
Define Clear Objectives
Set specific goals and scope so the testing efforts are focused and relevant.
Obtain Proper Authorization
Get a secure written approval to prevent any legal issues and ethical violations.
Use a Structured Methodology
Stick to established frameworks such as OWASP or NIST to ensure consistency and detail is observed.
Simulate Real-World Scenarios
Adopt mimic attacks performed by actual attackers to discover real vulnerabilities.
Maintain Detailed Documentation
Document every step and finding to support analysis, reporting, and future audits.
Communicate with Stakeholders
Update IT teams and avoid disruptions while aligning with the business goals.
Minimize System Impact
Time tests for low traffic and do not take actions that might crash critical systems.
Provide Actionable Reports
Provide crisp recommendations for remediation with a list of priorities.
How to Select the Best Network Penetration Testing Service Provider
This is an easy process to follow before hiring a provider:
1. Check Certifications
Research qualifications such as OSCP, CEH, or CREST confirm that the team is qualified and complies with best practices.
2. Evaluate Experience
Check their previous work, the clients’ testimonials, and industry focus to see their experience level in dealing with networks.
3. Assess Testing Methodology
Select a provider who applies automated tools and manual techniques to find complex vulnerabilities.
4. Request Sample Reports
Check the clarity, in-depth findings, and actionable recommendations in sample reports.
5. Customization Capabilities
Find services customized to your business type, size, and network complexity.
6. Post-Test Support
A good network security assessment provider offers remediation advice and a retest to ensure issues are resolved completely.
The Future Trends in Network Security and Penetration Testing
The world always knows some trends that allow businesses to survive in the competitive marketplace.
AI-Powered Threat Detection
Artificial intelligence will improve real-time threat detection and automate vulnerability detection more accurately.
Continuous Penetration Testing
Rather than annual testing, companies will implement running testing models for continuous security validation.
Cloud Security Focus
With the increase in cloud adoption, its penetration testing will also target cloud-native infrastructure and services.
Testing Strong Zero Trust Architecture
Further organizations will undergo testing of the effectiveness of Zero Trust models to ensure access controls remain intact.
Red Teaming and Adversary Simulation
Robust defense evaluation will rely on sophisticated simulations emulating real-world attackers becoming the norm.
Conclusion
Network penetration testing is an important part of a complete cybersecurity architecture. Organizations can discover and remediate risks ahead of exploitation by simulating real-world threat actors’ techniques to improve security. Organizations can iteratively improve the security of their network infrastructures to secure sensitive data and be compliant and resilient to continuously changing threats by performing regular Network penetration testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some popular open-source network pentesting tools?
Apila’s well-known open-source network pentesting tools are Nmap for network discovery and Wireshark for packet analysis.
2. What do the external network pentesting methods look like?
There are usually 3 ways to do external network pentesting:
- Black box pentesting: Testers lack critical knowledge of the tested environment.
- White box pentesting: Testers are well-versed in the tested environment.
- Grey box pentesting: Testers do not know the tested environment.
3. What should a report from the network penetration test contain?
Network penetration test reports contain key findings, conclusions about network infrastructure, vulnerability assessment results, outcomes for the organization, and advice for resolving potential challenges.
