A penetration test is a simulated cyber attack against your computer system to check for exploitable vulnerabilities. The main goal of a pentest is to discover vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. There are several ways to discover these vulnerabilities. You can opt for a manual pentest performed by a team of white hat hackers, or automated penetration testing performed by a software.

The penetration testing process typically involves several phases. First, the tester gathers information about the target and identifies possible entry points. Then, the tester attempts to breach the tested environment. Finally, the tester compiles a report detailing vulnerabilities found and suggestions for improving security of the tested environment.

Penetration testing process

Penetration testing involves the following five stages:

1. Plan - to better understand the target, you should collect intelligence about how it functions and any possible weaknesses.

2. Scan - use static or dynamic analysis to scan networks. This informs pentesters how the application responds to various threats.

3. Gain access - locate vulnerabilities in the target application using pen testing strategies such as cross-site scripting and SQL injection.

4. Maintain access - check the ability of a cybercriminal to maintain a present presence through an exploited vulnerability or to gain deeper access.

5. Analyse - access the outcome of the penetration test with a report detailing the exploited vulnerabilities, the sensitive data accessed, and how long it took the system to respond to the pentester’s infiltration.

Penetration testing methods:

- External testing

- Internal testing

- Blind testing

- Doulble-blind testing

- Targeted testing

- Penetration testing services

- There are two types penetration testing services: manual and automatic

Penetration testing importance

Penetration testing attempts to compromise an organisation's system to discover security weaknesses. If the system has enough protection, security teams should be alerted during the test. Otherwise, the system is considered exposed to risk. Thus, penetration testing can contribute to improving information security practices.

Another benefit of penetration testers is that it is conducted by external contractors, and it is possible to determine how much information to divulge about internal systems. A penetration test can stimulate an external attacker , with no knowledge of the internal network, or a privileged insider.