Cybercrime will cost the world an estimated $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.
One of the best ways to reduce the risk of cybercrime is through various types of penetration testing. Any network vulnerability can be a major problem, and using different kinds of pentests can help you identify them so you can take action.
Let’s look at four of the main penetration testing types available.
1. External Network Penetration Testing
This looks at your externally-facing assets, which is anything publicly available. When performing this test, the assessment team will try to leverage any vulnerabilities they find or attempt to access data. They may be able to do this through things like websites, company emails, and cloud services.
You can hire an ethical hacker to do this. They’ll identify vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker may try to exploit. They’ll then give you an understanding of these exploits so you can deal with them before a hacker takes advantage.
If your organization uses public or hybrid cloud systems, it may present more risks. Make sure your cloud security information is reliable and up to date.
2. Internal Network Penetration Testing
This applies to the inside of your organization’s outer defenses. A pentester will use a simulation and assume the role of a malicious “insider.” This is often a disgruntled employee who has access to your network.
They run scenarios to see what might happen if such an employee – or cybercriminals masquerading as an employee – tried to hack your network from the inside. The results of this test will show if there’s any risk that you need to consider. You may then need to make changes such as altering access privileges, improving patch management, or enforcing more secure passwords.
3. Social Engineering Testing
Human error is the leading cause of data breaches. No matter how secure your system or managed IT solutions are, your organization could easily fall victim to cybercrime if your employees aren’t prepared. Social engineering testing is a way of seeing how vulnerable your organization is to this.
The tester will attempt to gain employees’ trust and trick them into doing something that shares or exposes sensitive data. Phishing emails are a typical example of this. Ensuring your staff have proper cybersecurity training is the best way to minimize the risk here.
4. Wireless Penetration Testing
This test is done to see how vulnerable a wireless network is. If a hacker is within range of your wireless network, they may be able to access it.
Wireless hacking has come a long way, and cybercriminals can get full-blown suites with various tools they can use maliciously. Wireless penetration testing is vital to minimize the risk of your wireless network being attacked.
Which Types of Penetration Testing Should You Use
Beyond this list, there are several other types of penetration testing. To keep your business safe, determine which types will help you protect it.
Pegasus Technologies offers a range of managed IT services such as penetration testing, backup recovery and disaster planning, mobile device integration, and more.
Our simplified pricing makes getting the services you need easy, and we have offices in Wayne, Media, and Kennett Square. Contact us to find out more about how we can help your organization.
