You hear it time and time again: You can never be too safe online. But how many of us actually understand the risks, the dangers, and what we can do to protect ourselves from potential cyber attacks?
As a company that operates in the digital realm, having cyber security measures in place is essential at avoiding any malicious activity on your network.
Penetration testing is one such measure that companies are advised to implement as part of their ongoing security protocols. It’s a process that tests your network for vulnerabilities and determines if there are any weak spots that need to be fixed. Penetration testing is basically an organized attack against your company’s network with the sole purpose of finding potential weaknesses that could be exploited by hackers.
This blog will explain what penetration testing is, why you need it as part of your cyber security strategy, and how it can help protect your business from cyber attacks.
So, What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing (or pen testing) is the process of attempting to breach the security of a computer system, telecommunications system, network or computer network to identify vulnerabilities. The process is used to test the effectiveness of current security measures against potential threats by actively trying to breach the system’s security.
Penetration testing can be done manually, by attempting to exploit known vulnerabilities in software and hardware, or by automating the process. The latter approach is referred to as penetration testing tool or automated penetration testing, and uses specialized software to simulate an attack.
Types of Penetration Tests
There are different types of penetration tests, each designed to test a different aspect of your network. These include:
Network Security Tests
Network security tests examine the network infrastructure to determine if it is secure against attack. This may include testing firewalls and network devices, assessing network configurations and settings, and testing wireless networks.
Application Security Tests
Application security tests examine computer systems to determine if they are secure against attack. This may include testing websites, databases, and other systems that process or store data.
Infrastructure Security Tests
Infrastructure security tests examine the physical elements of a network, such as cabling, switches, and routers. This test type may also include testing the availability of the network and the performance of devices.
Why is Penetration Testing Important?
Network security threats are at an all-time high and it’s not surprising to see that more and more companies are hiring external contractors to perform penetration tests on their networks.
Penetration testing is a vital practice and can help you avoid costly data breaches. After all, the main purpose of a penetration test is to identify and then attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in your network that could leave your data open and exposed to malicious attacks. So, if you’re not conducting penetration testing regularly, you could be putting your data at risk.
During a penetration test, security experts try to break into your network by using the same tools, methods, and skills that malicious hackers use. When penetration testers find security flaws, they report the vulnerabilities to you so you can fix them before malicious hackers exploit them.
The process of performing a penetration test can be costly, which is why you should consider the benefits it can provide for your business. For example, if you don’t have security measures in place, you could suffer from a data breach. If a hacker compromises your network, they can steal data and cause damage to your systems.
In Conclusion
The world of cyber security is a fast-paced, rapidly changing field. With so many new threats emerging and technologies constantly updating, staying abreast of the latest best practices is no easy feat. Luckily, finding a cyber security course online is now a breeze nowadays.
Penetration testing has proven to be an effective way for companies to stay secure in this ever-changing world. By implementing this strategy as part of your security protocols, you can better protect your network and avoid costly data breaches.