Every company, no matter its size, has digital assets, tools, and resources that need protection.
Developing a cybersecurity plan, implementing protective measures, and documenting procedures are essential steps for safeguarding assets. However, only the penetration test provides a concrete assessment of vulnerabilities and immediate insights into cyber risks and threats.
A pen test is a key step in the process of strengthening any company’s cybersecurity posture. By testing protection measures, the pen test makes it possible to identify current risks and the operational responses necessary to mitigate those risks.
The different approaches to penetration testing
- Black-box penetration testing
During a black-box penetration test (also known as external penetration testing) the pen tester is given little to no information about the target’s IT infrastructure.
The main benefit of this method is to simulate a real-world cyber attack, whereby the pen tester assumes the role of an uninformed attacker, usually operating from the public Internet.
- White-box penetration testing
Unlike the black-box pen test, the pen tester works in close collaboration with the client’s information systems department (ISD) and has access to all information concerning the configuration of the information system (IS). The white-box pen test is more like an official IT audit, but it offers the possibility of identifying vulnerabilities in more depth by accessing all layers of the IS.
- Grey-box penetration testing
Increasingly common, the grey-box pen test represents an intermediate methodology that combines the advantages of both black-box and white-box testing. The pen tester performs the tests with a limited set of information. For example, the pen tester can assume the role of an employee within a sensitive department who has a user account. As the attack progresses, additional information is gained. Grey-box testing proves to be an optimal strategy because it can simulate various types of attacks, including those originating from inside the company. The pen tester can develop attack scenarios as members of the company, former employees, or even external service providers, depending on the assigned rights.
The place of the red team in the pen-test strategy
Red team’s are sometimes likened to pen testing due to some similarities, but it’s important to recognize that they are distinct approaches to testing.
A red team consists of an offensive team whose mission is to penetrate the defenses of a company or digital asset. However, this approach differs from pen testing in several essential respects. First, a red team operates without perimeter restrictions and over a significantly longer period compared to a pen test, often spread over several months. Like a pen test, a red team simulates an offensive by malicious hackers aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities, but red teamers have a much more extensive arsenal in terms of tactics, techniques & procedures. Red teams also allow organizations to assess their defensive capabilities, including their ability to detect, respond to and recover from cyberattacks in real time.
Benefits of performing a penetration test
Pen testing might seem risky for a company, as it involves testing the security of its IS through simulated attacks. However, the undeniable benefits offer compelling reasons to adopt this practice:
Fixing security vulnerabilities:
Cybercriminals are constantly improving their attack techniques, which makes it difficult for a company to continuously guarantee the security of its IS. Regularly carrying out a penetration test allows you to update the security of the IS by proactively identifying and correcting IT vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors. This approach also helps to better understand the consequences of a malicious intrusion and to find solutions to avoid them.
Protection against cyber attacks:
Malware attacks do not discriminate between companies, meaning even those with strong security systems are likely to be affected.
Avoid financial losses:
Although penetration testing has a cost, it is minimal compared to the potential financial losses caused by a malicious intrusion. According to an IBM study, a cyberattack costs the victim company an average of $1.42 million. Additionally, fixing failures after an attack requires an average of $13 million. Pen tests therefore represent a profitable investment in the short and long term for companies.
Penetration testing in a global cybersecurity approach
The discipline of penetration testing is set to evolve thanks to new technologies, notably artificial intelligence, as well as the emergence of advanced recognition and vulnerability exploitation tools.
Although pen testing is an effective way to improve the security of an IT system, it should not be considered a final solution. Rather, it should be integrated into a comprehensive security strategy that involves all the IS’s stakeholders. Pen testing should be seen as an opportunity to establish a constructive dialogue between those subject to audit and the auditors. For the company, a penetration test represents the opportunity to obtain an objective opinion from an external expert. It must always be accompanied by a concrete action plan, considering operational reality and the specific business risks facing the company.