What is Penetration Testing? Improve Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Penetration testing is a proactive approach to cybersecurity that identifies and exploits vulnerabilities in a controlled environment before malicious actors do. With cyberattacks on the rise and the concerning statistic that 7 out of 10 organizations worldwide are at risk of a material cyberattack this year, companies of all sizes need robust defenses. 

Pentesting is a valuable tool to strengthen your organization's security posture. In this blog post, we'll look at the ins and outs of penetration testing, exploring its benefits, methods, environments, and the key steps involved in a comprehensive pentest.

Read on to learn more about how Acid Labs can help your business incorporate pentesting into your cybersecurity strategy!

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, a.k.a. pentesting or ethical hacking, is a proactive cybersecurity methodology organizations use to assess the robustness of their computer systems, applications, websites, or networks. At its core, penetration testing involves simulating real-world cyberattacks on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.

The main goal of pentesting is to uncover security weaknesses before cybercriminals can exploit them. By conducting a pentest, organizations can obtain a complete assessment of their security posture and take the necessary steps to improve it, helping to meet legal security obligations.

Benefits of pentesting

Pentesting assesses the robustness of your infrastructure against digital threats. Its main advantages include:

• Risk mitigation: Penetration testing helps prevent financial, data, and reputational loss by proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.
• Incident response improvement: In addition to reducing risk, pentesting minimizes the impact of a cybersecurity incident. By identifying vulnerabilities before they are exploited, organizations can improve their incident response capabilities and minimize downtime in the event of an attack.
• Regulatory compliance: Penetration testing enables organizations to comply with industry regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
• Enhanced trust and confidence: Penetration testing improves customer and partner confidence by demonstrating an active commitment to information security. Organizations can assure stakeholders of their dedication to protecting sensitive data and maintaining trust in their services.

Pentesting methods

Penetration testing uses a variety of testing methodologies that allow testers to simulate real-world cyberattacks and identify vulnerabilities across multiple attack vectors. Let's explore two key testing methodologies commonly used in penetration testing:

1. Internal pentest 

Internal penetration testing involves conducting assessments within the organization's network environment, either through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection or physically on-site. The primary objective is to identify and remediate vulnerabilities and risks within the infrastructure that internal or insider threats could exploit. By mimicking the actions of a malicious insider, internal pentesting helps organizations strengthen their internal security controls and mitigate potential insider threats.

2. External pentest

Performed from outside the organization's network perimeter, external penetration testing simulates attacks by unauthorized external attackers. Testers adopt the perspective of a potential external threat actor, attempting to breach the organization's external defenses and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or resources. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, external pentesting helps organizations identify and mitigate potential external threats, such as remote exploitation attempts, phishing attacks, or targeted intrusions.

Types of penetration testing

Penetration testing can take various forms, each designed to meet different requirements and strategies:

1. Black Box Pentest 

A blind approach without prior knowledge. Testers are given limited information about the target system, simulating an external hacker's perspective. Its goal is to evaluate the response to unknown threats.

2. White Box Pentest

A complete knowledge approach. Testers have full knowledge of the target system's architecture, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of security controls. Its goal is to identify vulnerabilities and perform a complete security analysis.

3. Gray Box Pentest

A limited knowledge approach. It combines black-box and white-box approaches, where testers have partial knowledge of the target system. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities with partial information.

Types of environments in penetration testing

The penetration testing process uses different environments to evaluate the security of systems and applications comprehensively. This holistic approach ensures a thorough assessment of security across multiple areas. Let's delve into the key environments and methods employed:

1. Internal infrastructure testing - It assesses the security of the internal network infrastructure, including servers, workstations, and other devices within the organization's network perimeter.

2. Cloud infrastructure testing - It evaluates the security configurations and controls implemented within cloud environments.

3. Perimeter device testing - Perimeter devices such as firewalls, routers, and intrusion detection systems (IDS) are the first line of defense against external threats. Perimeter device penetration testing is designed to identify vulnerabilities in these security controls and assess their effectiveness in protecting the network.

4. API auditing - API auditing involves assessing the security of APIs for potential vulnerabilities such as injection attacks, authentication flaws, and data exposure risks.

5. IoT testing - It assesses the security of the Internet of Things (IoT) interconnected devices.

6. Web security analysis - Web applications are often a prime target for cyber attacks. Web security assessment involves evaluating the security of web applications for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and authentication flaws.

7. Network evaluations - Network evaluations involve assessing the security of network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and other network devices. This includes identifying misconfigurations, unauthorized access points, and potential network-level vulnerabilities.

8. Social engineering - Social engineering tests the human element of security by attempting to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. This technique can include phishing attacks, pretexting, and physical security breaches.

9. Mobile application analysis - Mobile application analysis involves evaluating the security of mobile applications for vulnerabilities such as insecure data storage, improper session management, and insecure communication protocols.

10. Static and dynamic code analysis - Static and dynamic code analysis techniques are used to assess the security of software applications by analyzing the source code or executing the application in a controlled environment. These techniques help identify vulnerabilities like buffer overflows, insecure cryptographic implementations, and injection flaws.

Penetration testing steps

A strong defense starts with knowing your vulnerabilities. That's why Acid Labs offers comprehensive penetration tests designed to identify and exploit weaknesses in your systems, networks, and applications before attackers can. Here's a closer look at our four-step pentesting process:

1. Detailed analysis

Our cybersecurity experts thoroughly analyze your systems, networks, and applications. Through careful examination and assessment, we identify vulnerabilities and potential threats within your digital infrastructure. This phase allows us to customize our testing approach and ensure it meets your needs and compliance requirements.

2. Vulnerability exploitation

Building on the findings from the analysis phase, our team simulates realistic cyber-attack scenarios to exploit identified vulnerabilities. By mimicking malicious actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), we help you understand the potential impact of a real-world attack. This hands-on approach allows us to uncover vulnerabilities that cybercriminals could exploit, providing valuable insight into your organization's security resilience.

3. Solution recommendations

We provide specific and actionable recommendations to address each identified vulnerability. Our customized solutions are designed to mitigate risk effectively and improve your organization's security posture. From patching software vulnerabilities to implementing robust access controls, our recommendations are designed to strengthen your defenses against evolving cyber threats.

4. Retest

Once the recommended solutions have been implemented, we conduct a thorough retest to validate their effectiveness. This final phase ensures that the security measures have significantly improved your organization's resilience against cyber threats. As a result, you can rest assured that your digital assets are better protected against potential attacks.

Why choose Acid Labs for penetration testing?

When you partner with Acid Labs for penetration testing, you gain access to a wealth of benefits tailored to meet your organization's unique security needs:

• Cybersecurity expertise: Our team consists of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals with extensive experience conducting penetration testing.
• Effective methodology: We use the most advanced techniques and tools to provide a complete assessment of your digital infrastructure.
• Customized approach: We understand that each organization is unique, facing different challenges and risks. That's why we take a customized approach to each engagement, considering factors such as your organization's size, industry, and specific security requirements.
• International standards: Acid Labs is certified to ISO 27001:2013 standards, with the scope of “Pentesting in three variants, Black Box, Gray Box, and White Box.” This certification demonstrates our commitment to adhering to globally recognized standards, ensuring that our processes and protocols meet the highest levels of security and compliance. When you choose Acid Labs, you can be confident that your digital assets are protected by industry-leading security practices.

Contact us today for more information on how we can help secure your business!