The 5 most important phases of a Penetration Test
A penetration test attempts to identify the vulnerabilities in security systems or networks by trying to exploit them. It is different from hacking in the sense that a pen-tester has permission to attack a system.
Hacking aims to harm a system, whereas pen-testing (also known as ethical hacking) aims to secure a system by finding its weaknesses. The results of penetration tests are essential for finding and patching security flaws.
The Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers are responsible for finding vulnerabilities in systems while also deciding which penetration testing method is the best fit for the situation out of the many methods available.
This task is challenging and requires great skills, knowledge, and experience. Penetration testers need to be comfortable with various hacking methods and have thorough network security knowledge.
They must also be aware of different hacking tools and their uses and know how to appraise the target system’s security posture.
Penetration Testing Phases
A penetration test can be divided into 5 stages, namely, reconnaissance, vulnerability assessment, exploitation, and reporting.
Reconnaissance
This is the first stage of penetration testing. This phase requires that the penetration tester or ethical hacker gathers as much information about the system to be targeted as possible. So the hacker will gather information about the OS and applications, the network topology, user accounts, and other relevant info. The goal of this stage is to gather as much relevant data as possible to help the tester plan a potent attack strategy. In this step, the scope and goals of the penetration test are also defined, along with the systems to be addressed.
Scanning
In the second stage, after all the necessary data has been accumulated in the reconnaissance phase, the tester moves on to scanning. The tester uses different tools to recognize open ports and check the network traffic on the targeted system. Open ports are possible entry points for attackers and so, this stage aims to find as many of the ports as possible so that the tester can use them in the following phase. In this stage, the tester tries to understand how the target system will respond to different threats. The methods to do so are static analysis and dynamic analysis.
Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability assessment is the third phase of the penetration testing process. In this stage, the ethical hacker uses all the information collected in the reconnaissance and scanning phases to pinpoint potential weaknesses and determine if they can be exploited. Vulnerability assessment is used to gain initial knowledge and identify possible security weaknesses that may make it possible for potential attackers to gain access to the system.
This is the penultimate stage of a penetration test. As soon as all the vulnerabilities have been identified, the tester can now attempt to exploit them. The tester aims to gain access to the target system through these vulnerabilities. Various tools such as Metasploit can be used for this purpose. Tools can help simulate real-world attacks.
Reporting or Analysis
After the exploitation, the ethical hacker creates a report that documents all of the pentest’s results. These findings can be used to patch vulnerabilities in the system and improve the system’s security. The report must detail the specific vulnerabilities that were attacked, sensitive data that was retrieved, and the amount of time the tester was able to remain undetected in the target system. This information is used by security personnel to help protect against future attacks.
Benefits of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing has multiple benefits which makes it extremely attractive to companies. Some of these benefits are listed below.
Compliance: Many regulatory standards require organizations to regularly conduct penetration tests and audits. If an organization does not comply, it may have to pay heavy fines. Performing penetration tests can help companies save money and make sure that all vulnerabilities are found and subsequently fixed.
Vulnerability Identification: One of the biggest benefits of penetration testing is that it allows you to find vulnerabilities in your system before they get exploited by a hacker. Breaches are detrimental to a company’s reputation and cause massive monetary loss. Penetration testing can help prevent these losses.
Keeping Cyber-security Professionals Up-to-Date: To be a successful penetration tester, one has to stay abreast in a world of constantly changing trends and techniques. Regular penetration tests are helpful to security professionals in that they allow them to keep up with the latest cyber threats and learn how to defend against them.
Final Thoughts
Penetration tests are indispensable for organizations. It is a fundamental step to help secure companies and start-ups and can in no way be overlooked. A well-performed penetration test can be the difference between terrible losses because of attacks or a well-reputed organization known for its security that gains the trust of its customers.
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