Every service-based organization now places a high priority on cybersecurity, as any security loophole can be used as an easy target for malicious attacks. Therefore, concentrating on thorough security testing procedures is the best strategy to secure sensitive data. The major reason network penetration tests are important for an organization’s security is that they teach staff how to deal with any form of malicious entity break-in. To find risk factors connected to crucial cybersecurity implementation projects, network penetration testing is necessary. Even though doing penetration tests on a regular basis is important, many people outside of the cybersecurity industry are unaware of its importance.
What is Network Penetration Testing?
Network penetration testing is a method of trying to hack into an organization’s network with the goal of finding security holes in it. Modern networks are complex and include a variety of security technologies such as firewalls, servers, workstations, WAN/LAN, IoT devices and servers. An attacker can penetrate the network through the weakest link.
Different types of network penetration testing
Every type of penetration test requires a different set or skills, procedures and resources. Each one should be aligned with a business goal. These are the types of network penetration testing services required for the evaluation of software products:
- Internal Network Penetration Testing: Internal network penetration testing is performed to detect what an attacker could achieve with initial access to a network. It can mirror insider threats, such as employees intentionally or unintentionally performing malicious actions.
- External Network Penetration Testing: An external network penetration testing is designed to test the effectiveness of perimeter security controls to prevent and detect attacks, identifying weaknesses in internet-facing assets like web, mail, and FTP servers.
Vulnerability Trends
According to a survey, these are the top cyber attacks that US companies have experienced:
- Phishing – 38%
- Network Intrusion – 32%
- Inadvertent disclosure – 12%
- Stolen/lost device or records – 8%
- Misconfiguration of the system – 5%
According to the study, people and organizations worry about possible hacking situations and data breaches. These cyber attacks can cause revenue loss, as well as a negative reputation that could lead to costly settlements and strict government regulations.
Network Vulnerabilities
Network vulnerabilities are weaknesses in organizational procedures, hardware or software that could be exploited by an attacker to cause a security breach. Below is an example of network vulnerabilities.
Types of “Network Security Threats”
You can create more comprehensive policies and procedures to safeguard your company’s data security if your business is aware about the threats described below.
Phishing
Phishing refers to a technique in which attackers pretend they are someone else in order to steal information. This information is usually communicated via email or message.
Malware
Malware is malicious software designed to steal confidential data and files or compromise and damage work systems.
Source: www.av-test.org
DDoS attack
DDoS attacks are multi-infected computer attacks on one target that prevent service being provided to legitimate users.
DNS Attack
DNS attacks are exploits that allow an attacker to access domain name system (DNS), vulnerabilities. This would enable it to route the communication to a website using the hacker’s exploit.
Advanced Persistent Threats
An APT is an attack on a computer network that allows intruders to gain access and remain undetected for long periods of time.
Importance of Network Penetration Testing
It doesn’t matter if you are a startup, mid-market or enterprise, penetration testing is vital for all organizations. This allows you to ensure that your systems and infrastructure are secure. Here are the top reasons penetration testing is important:
- Real-time Experience. To find out if your security measures are working, you should conduct penetration tests. Pentest provides real-life experience with dealing with an attack.
- Risk Prioritization. Network security penetration testing is a way to find vulnerabilities in your network. We cannot determine which vulnerabilities we should patch first without prioritization.
- Uncover Vulnerabilities. Pentesting is used to find loopholes within your network. Pentesting is done to discover loopholes in your network, much like a hacker.
- Assess Attack Vector Feasibility. Security personnel can quickly identify and respond to different types of cyberattacks using penetration testing vendors
Network Security Testing Tools
The top network security tools will give you an accurate picture of your network’s security status. These are the top tools for testing session security.
- Wireshark
- Wireshark, an open-source tool used to interpret and capture network packets, is available as an open source. It is available for Windows, Solaris and FreeBSD.
- Aircrack
- Aircrack, an open-source tool, is used to crack flaws in wireless connections. It analyzes data packets and exports text files for analysis.
Security Best Practices
System scanning can be done quickly with the help of older, more reliable services. There are many useful tools for network penetration testing. Let’s take a look at ways to protect your network from security breaches.1Regular Patching the SystemOrganizations should keep their software current with the latest security patches. Regular Patching of the SystemOrganizations must ensure that software is up-to-date with all security patches. However, it can provide valuable advice about how to reduce risks. Organizations can prioritize vulnerability fixes and save downtime by conducting periodic risk assessments.3Effective Firewall RuleA network firewall should be as effective as possible. You should only install software and apps from trusted, reliable sources. Before you allow applications to access your data, verify that they are authorized access. After installation, keep it up to date.
Conclusion
A network vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in the software, hardware, or organizational processes, which when compromised by a threat, can result in a security breach. Network security is an extremely critical aspect of any application, which needs to be implemented and tested carefully. At Offtheshelfexhibits, we provide network penetration testing services and we have expertise in the security testing domain in order to make sure our client’s businesses remain thriving & secure.