What is Network Penetration Testing and how does it work? Network penetration testing involves performing a survey of the network and examining how it will respond to the vulnerabilities discovered. The testing process typically involves static and dynamic analysis of the target application. An application is a computer program or piece of software designed to serve a specific purpose for the user. Static analysis involves viewing the application’s code as a snapshot. Dynamic analysis involves examining the application’s running code in real time.
Typically, organizations hire external contractors to perform pen tests on their networks. Third-party testers are more creative and efficient than in-house developers. Some companies even run bounty programs to attract testers for the purpose of performing pen tests. Once a company’s security measures have been established, it can begin the process of addressing vulnerabilities. Pen testing helps companies identify vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches and protect their customers.
Grey box tests are less detailed and take longer to perform, but they require testers who have some network knowledge. Whether or not a network penetration testing is performed depends on the specific target and the capabilities of the testing team. While black box testing is a thorough, comprehensive test, gray box tests can focus on a specific application or service or methodology. Larger environments can also focus on one specific aspect of the network to better budget and implement remediation efforts.
Grey box penetration testing uses automated tools and humans to simulate external security attacks. Grey box penetration testing is generally more advanced than black box testing, because automated tools are not always as effective. Grey box penetration testing also takes advantage of “open source intelligence” – the information gathered by real-life hackers. Grey box penetration testing involves research and execution of attacks and is not limited to identifying vulnerabilities.
In addition to having technical expertise, a penetration tester must be able to communicate their findings in plain language and must be able to effectively communicate their findings. Pen testing is only part of the overall security strategy for a network. It occurs over a defined period of time and complements other types of security assessments. Its goal is to keep the network secure and free from vulnerabilities. There are many benefits of hiring a penetration tester, but only the best ones will secure the network.
When a network penetration tester performs a penetration test, they use tools to simulate various attacks. The goal of this type of attack is to determine if a system is secure from malicious hackers. The tester may use a port scanner or vulnerability scanner tool to check for unusual ports. If the port 80 is open, he may use an exploit script to gain access to it. A white box penetration test will be much more thorough and detailed than black box testing.