Internal Penetration Testing

Internal Pen Testing

What is internal penetration testing?

Internal penetration testing is a process where a company typically hires an outside organisation to test the security of their internal computer networks. The choice depends on the size and complexity of the company’s IT infrastructure, in-house security skills, as well as their budget.

The pen testers job is to attempt to break into the company network in order to find any vulnerabilities that may exist. This process can help companies identify and fix any security holes before they are exploited by hackers.

How is internal penetration testing done?

Internal penetration testing, also known as white hat hacking, is the process of attempting to penetrate a company’s network security defenses from within. Internal penetration testing is used to identify vulnerabilities in a company network that could be exploited by hackers. It can also help identify weaknesses in the company’s security policies and procedures that could leave the network vulnerable to attack.

The goal of internal penetration testing is not to damage or exploit the systems being tested, but rather to identify and report on any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, companies can improve the security of their networks and protect themselves against cyber-attacks.

What are the benefits of internal pen testing?

Internal pen testing is used to identify vulnerabilities in systems that are within the organisation. The benefits of internal pen testing include the following:

1. It can help identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers.

2. It can help ensure that systems are secure and that data is protected.

3. It can help improve security awareness within the organisation.

4. It can help identify rogue devices and unauthorised users on the network.

Is internal penetration testing worth it?

While this type of testing can be expensive and time-consuming, many companies find that it is worth the investment. Internal pen testers can identify vulnerabilities that internal employees may not see. They are also able to provide suggestions for how to fix those vulnerabilities. In addition, internal pen testing can help employees become more aware of cyber threats and how to protect themselves moving forward.

What are the types of attacks that can be carried out during internal pen testing?

The goal of internal pen testing is to help organisations identify and fix security flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors. There are a variety of different attacks that can be carried out during internal pen testing, including:

1. Denial of service attacks – A denial of service attack can be used to overwhelm a system or network with traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users.

2. password attacks – A password attack can be used to attempt to guess login credentials for a system or network.

3. phishing attacks – Phishing attacks are designed to trick users into revealing their login credentials or other sensitive information.

4. man-in-the middle attacks – A man in the middle attack occurs when a user is tricked into connecting to an attacker’s system, who then captures and transmits all network traffic between the victim and the legitimate server.

5. password reuse attacks – A password reuse attack occurs when a user’s credentials are guessed, which can be used to exploit other systems or networks.

What happens after the internal pen testing is completed?

After the internal pen testing is completed, it’s important to review the testers report on the findings to management. The goal of reporting is to ensure that everyone understands what was found and what needs to be done to address any vulnerabilities. In order to do this, you’ll need a report that is easy to understand.

The first step is to outline the findings. This should include a summary of the overall assessment, as well as details about specific vulnerabilities. Next, you’ll need to identify the risk level for each vulnerability. This will help management understand which issues are most urgent and need to be addressed first. Finally, you’ll need to provide a plan of action. This should include steps that need to be taken in order to fix the vulnerabilities identified in the assessment.

Differences Between Internal and External Penetration Testing

Internal and external penetration testing are both important components of a comprehensive security program, but they serve different purposes. Internal penetration testing is used to identify vulnerabilities in the organisation’s own systems, while external penetration testing is performed on systems from outside of the organisation’s network.

External penetration testing is more likely to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers to gain access to the organisation’s systems, while internal penetration testing is more likely to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by insiders. However, neither type of test can provide a complete picture of the organisation’s security posture. For that, you need both internal and external penetration tests.