What is a Pen Test? Penetration Testing Explained

In a world where software testing takes on new shapes and forms almost on a regular basis, it should be to no one’s surprise that penetration testing is another addition to the lineup. While it can be performed by any software testing company, specific penetration testing companies have propped up in the last decade with expertise in the trade. Today, we’ll be going through the details of what a PenTest really is.

What is a PenTest?

A pen test or a penetration test is an attempt made to ascertain the security measures and implementation of a software or application by trying to safely exploit vulnerabilities. Penetration testing companies go about this by looking for possible vulnerabilities in operating systems, services and application flaws. They may also assess any improper configurations or risky end-user behaviour. These assessments also prove useful in confirming the efficacy of defensive mechanisms and also how well end-users adhere to security policies.

Pen tests are normally done with the help of manual or automated testing software which leverages their capabilities to systematically compromise servers, web apps, endpoints, network devices, mobile devices and wireless networks – among any other viewpoints of exposure. Once these vulnerabilities are located on any system, QA technicians then try to use the compromised system to conduct subsequent exploits at other internal resources. They do this specifically by attempting to incrementally achieve greater levels of security clearance and deeper access to electronic devices, assets and information through privilege escalation.

Think of penetration testing as testing how well the security is of your house by trying to break into it yourself. This way, you can ascertain all the vulnerabilities yourself and prepare for any eventualities before they happen. Penetration testers are sometimes known as ethical hackers and they understand the security of IT infrastructures by deploying a controlled environment to safely attack, identify, and exploit flaws and vulnerabilities. Instead of doors, windows and chimneys in a house, they test networks, devices and infrastructures.

Difference between PenTests and Vulnerability Tests

Vulnerability scanners are essentially automated tools that understand an environment, and once examined, generate a report of the vulnerabilities found. These vulnerabilities are often found by using CVE identifiers that give information on known weaknesses. Scanners can uncover thousands of vulnerabilities, so there could also be enough severe vulnerabilities that further prioritization is required. Additionally, these scores don’t account for the circumstances of every individual IT environment. this is often where penetration tests are available.

While it may be true that vulnerability scans give an important picture of what potential security weaknesses may be present, pen tests can provide added context by highlighting whether the vulnerabilities can be leveraged to realize access within your environment. Pen tests also can help prioritize remediation plans supported what poses the foremost risk.

Why is Penetration Testing Important?

1. Pen testing evaluates an organization’s ability to guard its networks, applications, endpoints and users against external or internal attempts to bypass its security controls and gain unauthorized or privileged access to protected assets.
2. Pen tests give a detailed presentation on actual security threats that may be exploitable. By performing a penetration test, you’ll proactively identify which vulnerabilities are most crucial, which are smaller, and which are false positives. This enables your organization to more intelligently prioritize remediation, apply needed security patches, and allocate security resources more effectively to make sure that they’re available when and where they’re needed most.
3. These days, there is no one solution to stop a breach. Organizations must now have a portfolio of defensive security mechanisms and tools, including cryptography, antivirus, SIEM solutions, and IAM programs, to call a couple of. But even with the help of these important security tools, it can be difficult to seek out and get rid of every vulnerability in an IT environment. Pen testing takes a proactive approach, uncovering weaknesses in order that organizations know what remediation is required, and if additional layers should be implemented.
4. Without the right visibility into your environment as an entire, changing your security posture may end in you eliminating something that wasn’t actually problematic. Pen tests aren’t just used to tell you about what isn’t working. They also function quality assurance checks, so you’ll also determine what policies are best, and what tools are providing the very best ROI. With these insights a corporation also can intelligently allocate security resources, ensuring that they’re available when and where they’re needed most.