External Network Penetration Testing
Overview
Inadequate setup, patching, and maintenance of your company’s network perimeter can leave it vulnerable to breaches. Securing your internet-facing infrastructure, including operating systems, cloud services, servers, and firewalls, requires specialized skills. External network penetration testing aids in identifying vulnerabilities that unauthorized individuals may exploit to gain access to, compromise, or exploit your company’s critical data.
What is External network Penetration testing
An external network penetration test aims to identify weaknesses in perimeter security, uncover public-facing vulnerable systems, and exploit such systems. These assessments may target specific IP ranges or conduct thorough research using open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques. Moreover, they map attack paths leading to internal assets and verify firewall configurations to minimize the overall attack surface. The primary objective of these tests is to reveal security loopholes within your external infrastructure, enhancing your organization’s overall security posture.
Penetration Testing Methodologies and Standards
There are various standards and methodologies that ensure the penetration test is authentic and covers all important aspects. Some of them are mentioned below:
OSSTMM – The acronym OSSTMM stands for Open-Source Security Testing Methodology Manual, which serves as a prominent and widely acknowledged standard for penetration testing.
OSINT- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) involves gathering, analyzing, and distributing publicly available and legally accessible information. It aids in gathering insights for various purposes.
OWASP- or the Open Worldwide Application Security Project, is a renowned standard for penetration testing. Developed and continuously updated by a community of experts, it remains aligned with the latest security threats.
NIST- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a precise pentesting methodology tailored to assist pentesters in enhancing the accuracy of their tests.
PTES- which stands for Penetration Testing Execution Standards, primary objective is to establish a thorough and current standard for penetration testing and what they can anticipate from such tests.
Scoping: We work closely with you to define the test scope, including target systems, testing methods, and compliance needs.
Reconnaissance: Our team collects data about your internal network setup to understand its structure, devices, and potential vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Analysis: We conduct a thorough examination of your network, assessing systems, applications, and databases for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
Exploitation: Our ethical hackers simulate real attacks, exploiting identified vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to your systems.
Privilege Escalation and Lateral Movement:
We evaluate the potential for attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within your network, identifying access control weaknesses.
Reporting and Recommendations:
We deliver a detailed report outlining discovered vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and actionable remediation steps. Our team can assist in implementing security measures to enhance network resilience.
External Network Penetration Testing Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
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