2024 Guide to Penetration Testing: Strengthening Cybersecurity with Ethical Hacking

What is Penetration testing:

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is like hiring a friendly hacker to try and break into your company’s computer systems. The goal is to find any weak spots that real hackers could exploit. Think of it as a safety check to make sure everything is secure and working properly. It’s an important part of keeping your company’s data and systems safe.

Why is Penetration Testing Important?

Penetration testing is important because it helps a company find hidden weaknesses in their computer systems. By finding these weak spots early, the company can fix them before bad guys have a chance to break in and cause trouble. It’s like having a security expert check your locks and doors to make sure everything is secure. This way, you can prevent problems before they happen.

Pen Testing and Compliance

Penetration testing helps companies follow rules about keeping data safe and private. It finds weak spots where sensitive information could be exposed, so the company can fix them and make sure only the right people can see the data.

Sometimes Govt. rules or compliances even require companies to do penetration testing. For example, the PCI DSS version 4.0, section 11.4, says companies must do these tests to protect payment card information. It’s like a regular check-up to make sure everything is secure and meets the required standards.

There’s a Guideline on ICT Security from Bangladesh Bank which has stated the mandatory requirement for Penetration Testing.

Here’s the Link: Guideline on ICT Security For Banks and FIs ( bb.org.bd )

Who Performs Pen Tests?

Pen tests are usually done by people called “ethical hackers.” These are experts who try to break into a company’s computer systems, but with permission, to find and fix security weaknesses.

It’s best if the person doing the test doesn’t know much about how the system was built. This way, they can find problems that the original developers might have missed. That’s why companies often hire outside experts for this job.

Ethical hackers can come from different backgrounds. Some have advanced degrees and special certifications, while others are self-taught. Interestingly, some of the best ethical hackers used to be criminal hackers but now use their skills to help companies improve their security instead of causing harm.

The right person for the job depends on the company’s needs and the type of test they want to run.

What are the Types of Penetration Tests?

1. Open-box Pen Test

In this test, the hacker gets some information about the company’s security setup before starting. It’s like giving them a map to help find the weak spots.

2. Closed-box Pen Test

Also called a “single-blind” test, the hacker only knows the company’s name and nothing else about its security. It’s like trying to break in without any clues.

3. Covert Pen Test

Also known as a “double-blind” test, almost no one in the company knows the test is happening, not even the IT and security teams. This makes it a surprise test to see how well the company responds to an unexpected attack. The hacker needs to have all the test details in writing to avoid any legal issues.

4. External Pen Test

In this test, the hacker tries to break into the company’s external systems, like their website and servers that are accessible from the internet. Sometimes, the hacker isn’t allowed inside the building and might do the test from a remote location or a nearby vehicle.

5. Internal Pen Test

Here, the hacker tests the company’s internal network from the inside. This helps find out how much damage someone inside the company, like a disgruntled employee, could do.

These tests help companies find and fix security weaknesses to keep their systems safe.

10 Popular Penetration Testing Tools

Metasploit — Great for vulnerability assessments and exploit development.

Burp Suite — Ideal for developers and DevSecOps professionals.

Nmap — Useful for network discovery and security auditing.

Wireshark — Excellent for network protocol analysis.

Nessus — Known for comprehensive vulnerability scanning.

OWASP ZAP — A popular tool for finding security vulnerabilities in web applications.

Cobalt Strike — Best for simulating real cyber threats.

Core Impact — Suitable for complex infrastructure penetration testing.

Aircrack-ng — Focuses on assessing Wi-Fi network security.

John the Ripper — A powerful password cracking tool.

How is a Typical Pen Test Carried Out?

1. Gathering Information

First, the ethical hacker collects information about the company and its systems. This helps them plan their attack, like a detective gathering clues before solving a case.

2. Gaining Access

Next, the hacker tries to break into the system using various tools and techniques. They might use special software to guess passwords or find weaknesses in the system. They could also use small devices that can be plugged into a computer to gain remote access. Sometimes, they even trick employees with fake emails or pretend to be delivery people to get inside the building.

3. Covering Tracks

After testing, the hacker makes sure to remove any devices they used and clean up any traces of their activity. This way, the system looks exactly as it did before the test, and no one can tell they were there.

What happens in the aftermath of a pen test?

1. Sharing Findings

After the test, the ethical hacker tells the company’s security team about any weaknesses they found. This helps the company know what needs fixing.

2. Making Improvements

The company then makes changes to improve security. For websites, this might mean adding limits on how many times someone can try to log in, setting up new rules to block attacks, and making sure forms are safe to use. For internal networks, they might add extra security layers or adopt a “Zero Trust” approach, which means not automatically trusting anyone inside the network.

3. Educating Employees

If the hacker used tricks like fake emails to get in, the company might train employees to recognize these tactics. They might also improve how they control who can access different parts of the system to prevent unauthorized movement.

4. Using Security Solutions

Companies like Cloudflare offer tools to protect applications, networks, and people. They combine web security solutions with a Zero Trust security platform to keep everything safe.

Penetration testing is an essential practice for safeguarding your company’s digital assets against evolving cyber threats. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities through ethical hacking, you can strengthen your defenses, comply with regulations, and ensure long-term security. As cyber risks grow, investing in regular pen tests is a smart strategy for staying one step ahead.