Advantages of Penetration Testing

Penetration testing also referred to as pen testing or PT, is a form of ethical hacking that simulates a potential cyberattack on a system, application, or device. When used properly, it can help you identify security vulnerabilities before they become a problem giving you an opportunity to remediate any findings, which will ultimately reinforce the strength of your security posture.

But how exactly does penetration testing work, and how can you use it for your business?

Penetration testing is designed to mimic real cyberattacks, so it makes use of techniques typically used by malicious agents. Depending on the nature of the system and what the penetration tester learns during reconnaissance, ethical hackers can use things like brute force attacks or SQL injections to gain access to systems. Testers may also utilize specific pieces of hardware designed for penetration testing; for example, they may try to plug a box into your network to see if they can gain remote access to the network.

Some penetration testers also make use of social engineering. They may attempt to fool your employees, tricking them into giving up their login credentials or other valuable information as a shortcut to gain access to your systems. Or, they could also send phishing emails to your company as a means to determine your level of protection against such threats.

Generally, a penetration tester attempts to complete the test by covering tracks, eliminating any trace of evidence that was ever there, and leaving every system exactly how it was. At this point, the tester explains what efforts revealed, sparking a discussion with decision-makers within the organization.

Penetration testing offers many advantages, including:

Finding a range of vulnerabilities. First, pen tests have the ability to discover a wide range of vulnerabilities, from ineffective web application firewalls (WAF) to poorly trained employees. Discovering these potential weaknesses proactively gives you time to correct them before they end up causing real damage to your organization.

Identifying emergent weaknesses. Penetration testing may also reveal emergent weaknesses; high-level vulnerabilities that exist because of a combination of smaller, more innocuous weaknesses. These can be hard to catch otherwise.

Showcasing human creativity. A skilled pen tester will stop at nothing to try and find a way in. There are forms of automated testing that can help you identify vulnerabilities, but only an experienced, creative human being can discover certain points of entry.

Highlighting specific pieces of advice. Most penetration testing sessions end with a thorough report, detailing the potential weaknesses in your organization as well as recommendations about how to fix them. No matter what, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of your organization’s security posture.

If you want to learn the Penetration Testing Course or wanted to become certified in penetration Testing, the best place to start is with WsCube Tech. WsCube Tech provides a penetration testing course online as well as an offline course that provides students with all the technical knowledge and skills required for a successful career in hacking, hacking defense, or cyber forensics expert. By enrolling in one of the courses, students will receive a certificate of completion upon successfully completing the course and earning its certification.