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Penetration Testing

A penetration test, or pentest, is known as a software attack that targets a computer system. It will look for any type of weakness when it comes to security, which will allow potential access to a computer’s data and features.

The process usually identifies target systems, as well as a particular goal. It will the review any available information and undertake numerous means in order to sustain the goal. The penetration test target could be a white box (this will provide system and background information) or even a black box (this provides just basic or no information). This type of attack has the ability to determine if a system will be a vulnerable to an attack, as well as if the defenses are sufficient and which defenses that the test defeated.  Our Ethical Hackers follow the established “Rules of Engagement” to be adhered to by both parties during the testing time period.

Any security problems the penetration test identifies are always reported to the system owner and the POCs listed on the signed ROE Letter. The test reports are able to evaluate potential impacts to organizations, and quantify risk, as well as suggest a mitigation strategy to reduce any type of risk.

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Goals of Penetration Tests

  • Predispose feasibility regarding specific attack vectors.

  • Recognize any vulnerabilities that can be impossible or difficult to detect with an application vulnerability scanning software or automated network.

  • Evaluate magnitude of the potential business, as well as the operational impacts of attacks.

  • Recognize any vulnerabilities that are high-risk with a combination of lower-risk vulnerabilities that are exploited in a specific sequence.

  • Test the network defenders’ ability to recognize and respond to an attack.

  • Give evidence for support regarding increased investments with technology and security personnel.

 

The penetration tests are part of an element of a full security audit.  Our Auditors have experience conducting NIST 800-53a and rev3 Independent Audits and Assessments at United States Patent and Trademark Office for 4 years and Penetration Testing at the same time as well as PenTesting for major commercial clients such as Media General and Nexstar.

Penetration Testing: What is It?

 

A penetration tests acts as an attempt to assess the security of an IT infrastructure. This is done by safely exploiting vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities can be located in improper configurations, application and service flaws, risky end-user behavior, and operating systems. The assessments are beneficial when validating efficacy of the defensive mechanisms and adherence to SOPs by the end-user regarding security policies.

Penetration tests are normally performed by using automated or manual technologies in order to systematically compromise mobile devices, network devices, wireless networks, web applications, endpoints, servers, and other points of exposure that have the potential to be compromised. When the vulnerabilities have been exploited successfully on a specific system, the tester may use the compromised system in order to launch subsequent exploits for further internal resource, especially trying to gain higher levels of security clearance, as well as deeper access to information and electronic assets.

Information regarding any security vulnerabilities that are exploited successfully through the penetration testing will typically be aggregated then presented to network and IT systems managers to assist with the professionals drawing strategic conclusions, which will prioritize the related remediation effort. Fundamental purposes of penetration testing is to measure feasibility of a system or an end-user compromise, as well as to evaluate related consequences regarding incidents that potentially involve operations or resources.

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