The goal of penetration testing is to make your networks and applications as impenetrable as possible.
Penetration testing (or “pen test”) attempts to duplicate the same tactics malicious hackers use to gain entry into network systems. Because it mimics the attacker, penetration testing is one of the most thorough ways to locate system weaknesses so you can get them fixed before they get hacked.
Think of your network systems, application software, or whatever else you want to make hacker-proof, as your house. Conducting a pen test is like hiring a security expert to see if he can break into your house, and then tell you how he did it. This allows you to identify and repair your own security weaknesses before someone malicious has the chance to exploit them.
Often confused with scanning, which simply involves scanning all ports to see which ones are open or closed, and vulnerability scanning, which identifies network weaknesses, penetration testing actually goes further and attempts to use those weaknesses to gain entrance to your systems.
In other words, penetration testing is hacking with permission, or “ethical hacking,” with the obvious goal being for you to hack yourself before someone else hacks you.
Here are the top five reasons to get a penetration test:
- Make your network as secure and hacker-proof as possible;
- Comply with regulations (this could apply to your company or one of your clients operating in a regulated field);
- Establish a baseline;
- Test existing security systems; and/or
- You’ve already been hacked.
Essentially, anything that holds, transmits or transfers data can be penetration tested. Some examples include:
- Websites
- Mobile apps
- Wireless systems
- Phone equipment
- Games
- Servers
- Routers
- Firewalls
- Security systems