The Importance of Network Security Testing
Companies face an ever-growing risk of cyberattacks. Cybercriminals have worked to refine their tools and techniques and increasingly take advantage of automation to perform attacks more quickly and at scale. Regular network security testing can help organizations to identify new and previously undiscovered vulnerabilities within their networks. By doing so, they can patch these vulnerabilities and close security gaps before they can be exploited by an attacker.
How Does a Network Security Test Work?
The goal of a network security test is to identify potential vulnerabilities and other security risks within an organization’s network. The tester can examine various systems and use a range of tools and techniques to accomplish these goals. For example, an organization may choose a white-box or black-box test to achieve different security goals.
Once the test is complete, the tester should generate a report describing the methods used and vulnerabilities detected as part of the assessment. This information can then be used by the organization’s security team to design and implement a strategy for addressing any identified security flaws that require remediation.
Types of Network Security Testing
The average company relies on a diverse array of IT solutions to support its business operations. Network security tests can be used to assess the security of these systems in various ways, including:
- External Pentest: A penetration test is an in-depth assessment of an organization’s security by human testers. In an external pen test, the testers start from outside the corporate network — emulating an external cyberattacker — and attempt to identify and exploit vulnerabilities to gain access and achieve certain goals.
- Internal Pentest: An internal pentest is similar to an external one but starts from inside the corporate network with some level of access and permissions. This emulates an attack by an insider threat such as a malicious employee or an attacker with access to a compromised user account.
- VoIP Pen Testing: Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure is increasingly used to implement corporate telephony, making it an ideal target for attackers looking to steal sensitive data or disrupt corporate operations. VoIP pen testing involves assessing VoIP infrastructure for potential vulnerabilities that could allow for eavesdropping on or tampering with calls or performing unauthorized calls.
- Wi-Fi Testing: Many organizations have corporate wireless networks, which are used to connect important systems and carry sensitive information. Wi-Fi pen testing will look for the use of weak wireless security algorithms such as WEP or WPA, weak passwords, and other security holes that could enable eavesdropping or unauthorized access to corporate wireless networks.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Vulnerability scanning is an automated process for identifying potential vulnerabilities in software. A vulnerability scanner will identify software with known vulnerabilities, enabling security teams to apply patches or other fixes.
Benefits of Network Security Testing
Network security testing can have a few different benefits for an organization, including:
- Improved Security: Network security testing is designed to identify potential security risks in an organization’s network. Performing regular security assessments enables an organization to identify and correct vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by an attacker.
- Risk Awareness: Network security testing draws attention to the vulnerabilities and security gaps in an organization’s network. This information enables a company to more accurately assess its cybersecurity risk exposure and make data-driven decisions about security investment.
- Regulatory Compliance: Many data protection regulations require organizations to perform regular security assessments to ensure that they are properly protecting sensitive data. Network security testing can help an organization meet regulatory requirements and identify security gaps that could risk regulatory non-compliance.
Deliverables of a Network Security Test
A formal network security test may have a few key deliverables, including:
- Executive Summary: An executive summary provides high-level details about the results of the security test. This summarizes the findings and can provide key takeaways from strategic decision-making.
- Vulnerability Details: This section of the report details each of the vulnerabilities identified during the network security test. This includes descriptions of each vulnerability, how it can be exploited, and recommendations for remediation or mitigation.
- Report Presentation: In addition to a written report, a testing team will likely present their results as well. This enables key stakeholders to ask clarifying questions and ensure that they have a clear understanding of the test and its results.
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