What is Pen testing?
Penetration testing, commonly known as pen testing, is in high demand due to the rise of automated criminal hacking. Nowadays, it’s not a matter of whether you will be hacked but when it will happen. This is precisely where pen testing comes into play.
Many customers are now seeking our services to test the security of their networks and applications before a hacker can exploit them. For instance, they need to ensure that their encryption measures are sufficient and that their applications do not contain vulnerabilities or backdoors that could be exploited through hard-coded usernames or passwords.
What is a Pen test?
Penetration testing, commonly known as “pen test,” assesses the strength of an IT infrastructure’s security defenses by attempting to exploit vulnerabilities safely and ethically. Think of it like an annual medical check-up where you may appear healthy, but the doctor performs some tests to ensure you are not displaying symptoms of any severe illness. In your IT infrastructure, vulnerabilities can exist in operating systems, such as software application flaws, improper configurations, service flaws, and risky end-user behavior. Penetration testing typically includes:
- Network pen testing.
- Application security pen testing.
- Evaluation of controls and processes around the networks and applications.
It should be conducted from outside the network (external testing) and inside the network to ensure a comprehensive assessment.
Pen testing vs Vulnerability Scanning
“Pen testing” and “vulnerability scanning” are often used interchangeably. However, the industry needs to distinguish between the two. Pen testing involves exploiting vulnerabilities to test whether unauthorized or malicious activity can occur. Vulnerability scanning, on the other hand, simply identifies and reports vulnerabilities without any exploitation. The industry needs to be more transparent about distinguishing between these two terms.
AISN offers a range of security services, including pen testing and vulnerability scanning. Contact us now to find out how we can help you protect yourself and your network from a hacker.
Laurie Head is the Co-Owner and CMCO of AIS Network. She has been working in the IT industry since the mid-90s.