External Network Penetration Testing
In today’s digital-first world, security testing your network from external cyber attacks is more critical than ever. External penetration testing in network security in important for your organisation in standing against real world attacks. It plays a key role in your Cyber Security strategy.
Understanding External Network Penetration Testing
External network penetration testing is a proactive, authorised attempt to evaluate the security of the IT infrastructure by safely exploiting vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may exist in operating systems, service and application flaws, improper configurations, or risky end-user behaviour.
External network penetration tests are like having a security expert on your side. It uses cutting-edge techniques and smart tools to spot any risks in your business by mimicking real-world attacks. They take a close look at:
- Secure configurations
- Network traffic
- Password strength
- Patching
- Secure authentication
- Encryption
- Information leakage
The Purpose Of Penetration Testing For External Networks
The primary purpose of external network penetration testing is a security assessment to identify exploitable vulnerabilities in a network before attackers do. It helps an organisation to understand its network security weaknesses and implement effective security measures to mitigate the risks associated with those vulnerabilities.
Certified by CREST and Offensive Security, our qualified testers employ real-world hacking techniques to uncover profound insights.
Internal vs. External Networks: Differences And Similarities In Testing
The difference between internal and external networks is primarily based on the source of potential threats.
Internal Penetration Testing
An internal network pen test is designed to show what an attacker could do if they’ve already gained access to your network. It simulates insider threats. This can happen when an employee intentionally causes harm or accidentally triggers a security issue.
External Penetration Testing
An external network pen test is all about checking how well your perimeter security holds up against attacks. The tool helps you find weaknesses in your Internet-facing assets, such as web, mail, or FTP servers. It also checks how well your defences can stop or detect threats.
The testing methods may differ, but the main goal is the same for both internal and external penetration testing. This goal is to protect your network by finding and fixing vulnerabilities.
How to Begin Your External Network Penetration Test
You might be thinking about where to begin to check if your external defences are as strong as they should be. The first step? Choosing the type of assessment that suits you best. Here are the two most common options:
- Shared Knowledge (Grey Box) Assessment:
In this approach, you give the tester a list of hosts. These can be public IP addresses or domains. They will only test the specific assets you approve. This is the approach we generally recommend, as we believe a Grey Box assessment gives you the best balance of time and results.
- Zero Knowledge (Black Box) Assessment:
Here, the tester performs their own reconnaissance to discover all of your Internet-facing assets. Once they’ve compiled a list of what they’ve found, you’ll need to approve those hosts before the test begins. While thorough, this method can take a bit longer since you’ll need to confirm that all the identified hosts belong to your organisation.
- Although you ultimately decide which hosts to include in your test, we strongly recommend not limiting the scope. A broader test gives you a better view of your security.
- A limited test might miss some potential weaknesses. Also, if you are doing this for compliance, narrowing the scope might require a second test later. This second test would cover what we left out.
External Network Penetration Testing Methodology
No matter what type of assessment you choose, a good external network penetration test needs a strong plan. This plan ensures the test is both thorough and efficient. While every team might have their own way of doing things, most will follow a similar process:
- Step 1: Pre-Engagement:
This is when you and the testing team meet to define the test goals and what you want to achieve.
- Step 2: Defining Scope:
You’ll decide which assets you want to include in the test—basically, what systems and services you want them to target.
- Step 3: Exploitation:
The testing team will dive in, looking for any security weaknesses they can exploit. This is then followed by maintaining that access to determine whether the vulnerability can lead to persistent network compromise.
- Step 4: Reporting and Remediation:
After the test is complete, you will get a detailed report. This report will explain their findings and the methods they used. Then it’s time for you to start fixing any issues.
- Step 5: The Final Restest
After you make those fixes, the team will run the test again. This will ensure everything is secure and that the previous issues are resolved.
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External Network Pentesting vs Vulnerability Scanning
External penetration testing is a manual, hands-on approach that involves attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities. In contrast, vulnerability scanning is an automated process that scans a system for known vulnerabilities.
Both internal and external network penetration testing are an important component of a robust Cyber Security posture. External penetration testing offers detailed insights into your network’s security. It provides in-depth analysis and active exploitation attempts.
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Benefits Of External Penetration Testing Companies
When you choose an external company for your penetration testing needs, you unlock several key advantages. For starters, external Pen Testers offer a fresh perspective, free from any internal biases that might cloud judgement.
With their extensive experience across various industries, these experts bring best practices tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. Plus, they keep up with the latest hacking techniques and tools, ensuring that your network undergoes testing against the most current threats.
- Get a clear picture of the technology-related vulnerabilities that could affect your external infrastructure.
- Understand how these vulnerabilities might impact your business.
- Show your clients that you're serious about security by offering third-party assurances that your external infrastructure is secure.
- Stay compliant with key regulations such as ISO 27001, the UK Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and PCI DSS. Follow other legal and contractual requirements as well.
- Safeguard your brand’s reputation and maintain customer trust by reducing the chances of a security breach.
Choosing Equilibrium As Your Network External Penetration Testing Company
At Equilibrium, we offer external network penetration testing that meets the highest industry standards. Our testers are CREST certified, demonstrating our commitment to providing reliable, high-quality penetration testing services.
- We take pride in our personalised approach. We work closely with our clients to understand their needs. This helps us provide a service that fits you best.
- Our reports give clear insights to help you improve your network security. This will protect your organisation from cyber threats.
With Equilibrium, you can trust that skilled penetration testers for your pen test services. We care about your organisation’s security just like you do.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To ensure the results are clear for everyone, each penetration test includes a detailed written report. This report lists all found vulnerabilities. It explains the risk level they pose and how easy they are to exploit. It also gives recommendations to help you fix any issues quickly.
A team conducts an internal pen test within your organisation’s network, focusing on finding vulnerabilities from the inside. On the other hand, a team conducts an external pen test from a distance, assessing your external systems, which include internet-facing infrastructure and applications.
There is no single answer to this question. Every organisation is unique, so the cost of a pen test can vary widely. But there are a few key factors that usually influence the price:
- Scope and complexity: The larger your IP address space, the more work it takes.
- Size of your organisation: The number of live hosts that need to be tested plays a role.
- Experience of your pen testing team: More seasoned experts might come with a higher price tag.
- Type of test: Whether it’s a Black Box, Grey Box, or another type of test will affect the cost.
If you’re in charge of your external network, it’s worth asking yourself a few key questions:
- Are all my systems fully patched and correctly configured?
- Do any systems or applications still have weak or default passwords?
- Have I accounted for all the services that are exposed to the Internet?
- Is there a chance malware could already be present on my system?
- Are all my devices protected by properly configured firewalls?
- Is my confidential information securely stored and segregated?