Network Penetration Testing
You can’t afford to take chances with the security of your network infrastructure. It should be regularly monitored and tested to ensure that it’s secure and Cyber Security risks are minimised.
Ensuring The Security Of Your Infrastructure
One way to determine the security of your infrastructure is through network penetration testing. Also known as network pen testing, this is a simulated cyber-attack on a computer network to evaluate its security posture. Its primary goal is to identify vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure and assess the impact a successful attack might have.
By performing network security penetration testing, businesses can discover weaknesses before cybercriminals get a chance to exploit them. Remedial actions can then be developed and implemented to reduce the risk of a successful attack and any damage that might ensue.
What is network penetration testing?
In essence, a network penetration test is a simulated attack which is carried out by a qualified security professional.
How Does Network Pen Testing Work?
Internal network pen testing simulates an attack on your internal systems and network devices, while external network pen testing simulates an attack on your public facing assets.
The main difference between the two is the level of access granted to the tester. Internal network pen testing requires privileged access to the network, while external network pen testing does not.
During infrastructure penetration testing, a range of vulnerabilities can be detected, such as:
- Insecure configuration parameters
- Ineffective firewalls
- Unpatched systems
- Software flaws
By identifying and remediating these vulnerabilities, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of a successful cyber-attack.
There are five steps to the network security and penetration testing process:
- Reconnaissance this involves gathering all of the necessary information about the networks and their components.
- Scanning active hosts, services and vulnerabilities are identified.
- Vulnerability assessment any vulnerabilities that have been identified are subsequently assessed for their seriousness.
- Reporting the findings of the network penetration testing process will be summarised in a report.
Curious About The Craft Behind Penetration Testing?
It’s a blend of art and science. Explore our playbook for the methodologies our experts use in each test.
Combatting An Evolving Threat
Network security threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and it’s crucial for businesses to identify and mitigate them effectively. Some common network security threats and attacks include malware, phishing, and DDoS attacks:
- Malware is malicious software that is used to damage, disable, or control a computer system.
- Phishing is an attempt to steal sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details, by posing as a trustworthy entity.
- A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to overwhelm a website or online service with traffic from multiple sources to disrupt its availability.
What Is Included In A Network Pen Test Report?
Summary
The summary outlines the scope of the test, the testing methodology, and the key findings.
Risk Analysis
The risk analysis assesses the likelihood and impact of the identified vulnerabilities.
Impact Analysis
The impact analysis evaluates the potential consequences of a successful attack on the business.
Recommendations
The recommendations provide actionable advice on how to remediate the vulnerabilities and improve the security posture of the network.
What is the difference between internal and external penetration tests?
Network pen testing can be performed on an internal and external basis. In other words, a certified penetration tester can conduct tests both inside and outside your network perimeter.
Internal Network Penetration
- Internal network penetration testing assesses what an inside network attack could achieve.
- This could be any employee, partner or contractor who has access to corporate systems, applications and privileged data.
- An internal pentest will test all user machines, switches, servers, firewalls and phone systems. To explore all potential exploit paths, CREST certified testers test from both an authenticated and non-authenticated perspective.
- While external testing targets external defenses, internal testing simulates attacks from insiders or those already inside the perimeter.
- Vulnerabilities can be identified which could be exploited and find out what data can be accessed for users who have network login credentials and for those who don’t.
The Benefits
The benefits of an internal network pen test is
- Enhance Security Awareness: Internal tests spotlight human vulnerabilities, guiding improvements in security training and awareness
- Identify Hidden Vulnerabilities: Internal tests reveal vulnerabilities in the internal network, such as misconfigurations and unpatched software, not visible in external tests.
Assess Insider Threats: Simulations help gauge risks from malicious insiders like disgruntled employees or contractors.
External Penetration Testing
- External network penetration testing tests how robust your perimeter security measures are against malicious attacks.
- These type of pen tests assess your internet facing systems to help identify hidden security weaknesses in firewalls, intrusion prevention controls, VPN, ports, servers, mail, FTP servers, websites and more.
- External penetration testing services help to determine whether an unauthorised user with no system privileges can gain access to your network through your external perimeter.
- The role of a penetration tester is to pinpoint vulnerabilities before they’re exploited by adversaries.
- The role of a penetration tester is to pinpoint vulnerabilities before they’re exploited by adversaries.
The Benefits
The benefits of external network pen tests is:
- Identify Vulnerabilities: Uncover and address security weaknesses, misconfigurations in firewalls and operating systems and find open ports which could expose you to network breaches.
- Real-world Perspective: Gain a practical view of potential attack vectors on an organisation’s network.
- Prioritise Remediation: Determine which vulnerabilities pose the most risk and address them accordingly.
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What Are The Benefits of Network Pen Testing?
Firewall penetration testing and server penetration testing can play a vital part in improving your overall Cyber Security. It is highly targeted and can identify current vulnerabilities that leave your system vulnerable to exploitation by cyber-criminals. It enables businesses to assess the impact of a successful attack and then prepare accordingly.
Network pen testing also helps organisations to get the maximum benefit from their security budget by identifying gaps in their defences. It protects organisations from the cost, inconvenience and reputational damage that can result from a successful attack on your network.
How Equilibrium Security Can Help
Equilibrium Security is one of the leading network penetration companies in the UK. We are a CREST certified infrastructure tester which means we have up-to-date knowledge of the latest vulnerabilities and techniques used by real attackers. As well as identifying and testing all potential vulnerabilities, we can provide step-by-step remediation guidance and help develop a patch management strategy.
Contact our experienced team today for further information about our network penetration testing services and take the risk out of your network security.
- Reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorised access.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of your network security controls.
- Meet industry regulations and standards which require regular network penetration testing.
- Proactively identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers.