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Penetration testing is one of the most important and critical topics in today’s information age. Pentest is the collective term for the processes of detecting and reporting vulnerabilities in information systems by authorised security experts. This set of processes can be defined as a penetration testing service or Pentest service. In the Pentest (Penetration testing) service, which must be carried out by authorised and expert cybersecurity personnel, logical errors in information systems are identified and vulnerabilities are revealed. In the second phase, the revealed vulnerabilities are used to plan gaining authority over the relevant system. Once these vulnerabilities are exploited and authority is obtained, control of the system is achieved. Afterwards, a report is submitted to the relevant organisation listing these vulnerabilities so that they can be remediated. This naturally prevents malicious individuals from identifying these vulnerabilities and exploiting them for their own benefit.
The people who carry out all these processes and report them to the relevant organisations within ethical boundaries are called Pentesters or Penetration Testing experts. Penetration testing experts are individuals who hold certain certifications and have proven their competence in the field. The necessary procedures are completed by examining these individuals’ experience and certifications. In some organisations, prior to having a penetration test conducted, it is also necessary for the background, certifications or references of the personnel who will conduct the test to be requested, and for a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to be signed with the organisation that will conduct the penetration test.
In pentest (penetration testing) services, vulnerabilities are generally identified first, and then those vulnerabilities are used to gain privileged access to the relevant system, allowing operations to be performed on part or all of the system. The purpose of a vulnerability assessment, on the other hand, is not to obtain privileges but to evaluate the vulnerabilities identified in systems and determine potential risks.
Penetration tests can be carried out in three different types in agreement with the relevant organisations. The first is internal network penetration tests, the second is external network penetration tests and the third is web application security tests. In special organisations such as oil companies, there are also different types of penetration tests on special structures such as SCADA Penetration Tests, and mobile application penetration tests which have emerged with developing technology.
Internal Penetration Tests: In this type of penetration test, the relevant organisation provides connectivity to the personnel who will conduct the penetration test on its internal network, enabling the tests to be conducted from the inside. In this way, the risks that could arise in the event of unauthorised access from inside are identified and access is attempted to be obtained. In some special tests, internal penetration tests can be conducted on specified systems in a limited manner, while in some organisations they can be conducted without any restrictions and only with the knowledge of administrators, with no privileges being granted in order to obtain privileged access to the organisation’s network.
External Penetration Tests: In this type of penetration test, cybersecurity experts — i.e. white-hat hackers — adopt the identity of an attacker and attempt to access the system from the outside and gain authority within the organisation’s internal network. Throughout this process, all of the organisation’s external security layers are expected to be active and the penetration tests are expected to be conducted without providing any access.
Web or Mobile Application Tests are conducted from the outside but only cover penetration tests targeting the organisation’s web applications. Rather than accessing the organisation’s internal network, these are tests conducted on web application assets belonging to the organisation that are accessible on the internet. Until recently, web application tests were conducted alongside mobile application tests; however, today, due to developing technology and our assets, mobile application tests have also become classified as special tests and can be evaluated separately. Mobile application tests generally involve examining the assets of organisations built on Android or iOS platforms and identifying vulnerabilities.
Three types of methods are used when conducting pentests (penetration tests). These methods are called Black Box, White Box and Grey Box. The differences between these three penetration testing approach methods are specified below.
White Box Penetration Testing: The method used in this type of penetration test operates entirely within a framework of information and within defined boundaries. In this Pentest method referred to as white box, work is carried out with full knowledge of all security equipment, tools and personnel operating within the organisation’s internal network. As cybersecurity experts possess this information, their likelihood of making errors also decreases, and the aim is for the penetration test of the organisation’s network to be conducted with minimum risk to the organisation’s operational continuity.
Black Box Penetration Testing: In this approach type, work is conducted in a manner that is entirely the opposite of the White Box method. Unlike the White Box type, the penetration testing personnel assigned to infiltrate the organisation’s internal network have no information about the security tools or applications in the organisation’s network. They must solve this information and the attempt to infiltrate the interior based on their own experience. For this reason, a much longer and more expensive process must be followed compared to White Box penetration testing. At the same time, in this type of penetration test, all types of techniques are used and an attempt is made to infiltrate the organisation’s network in the same manner as a cyber attacker, even if it is dangerous to do so. Although it is one of the most successful and most important types of penetration test, it is not a frequently preferred Pentest method due to the possibility of causing damage to the organisation’s network or operational continuity.
Grey Box Penetration Testing: As its name suggests, this is one of the penetration testing methods that falls between the white and black approaches. In this approach type, penetration testing experts are informed about some points and entry routes of the organisation’s network, if not the entirety of it. At the same time, in order to minimise the risks of black box penetration testing, limits are set at certain points to minimise the risk of damage.
For our penetration testing service tailored to your organisation and a price quote, you can contact us at [email protected] or visit our IT Penetration Testing Service page to apply. As Privia Security, we are always by your side with our team of experts to protect your organisation’s network.
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