What are Penetration Tests?

Penetration testing, also known as "pen testing," is an authorized, controlled, and ethical attack against computer systems, networks, applications, or infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses. The purpose of a penetration test is to expose the security risks in an IT environment and demonstrate how a malicious hacker could potentially gain access to sensitive data or critical systems.

Key features of penetration testing include:

1. Authorized: Penetration testing is only performed with the permission of the system owner or organization. This ensures that the tests are conducted legally and ethically.

2. Controlled: Penetration testing is carefully planned and conducted by security experts who closely monitor activities. They must ensure that the test only hits its intended targets and that no unintended harm is done.

3. Ethical: The main difference between a penetration test and a hacker attack is that the penetration test is conducted ethically and with good intentions. The goal is to improve security and fix any weaknesses, not to cause damage or steal data.

During a penetration test, a security expert performs several steps:

1. Information Collection: The first step is to collect information about the target system, such as IP addresses, server types, software versions, etc. This helps identify potential weaknesses.

2. Vulnerability Scanning: In this phase, automated tools are used to scan the target system and discover known vulnerabilities. This helps identify potential entry points for an attacker.

3. Exploitation: Security experts actively try to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to the system or network. If a weakness is successfully exploited, the expert can try to penetrate deeper into the system.

4. Post-exploitation: If the expert manages to gain access, they can try to extend their rights and further explore what they can do with the access.

5. Reporting: After the test, a detailed report is prepared describing all vulnerabilities found and recommendations for improvements. This report is then given to the owner of the system so that they can take the necessary steps to strengthen their security.

Penetration testing is an essential part of cybersecurity and helps organizations better protect their IT infrastructure against potential attacks. By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, organizations can increase their level of security and protect their data and systems from malicious threats.