Network Penetration Testing...

A network penetration test is the process of identifying security vulnerabilities in applications and systems by intentionally using various malicious techniques to evaluate the network’s security, or lack of, responses.

 

Similar to vulnerability assessments, a network penetration test, also known as a pen test, aims to identify vulnerabilities in a network.

 

However, unlike a vulnerability assessment, a penetration test is an exact simulation of a potential attack to identify vulnerabilities that are harder to find in a network.

 

What Are The Benefits Of Performing A Network Penetration Test?

 

There are numerous benefits to performing network penetration tests on your systems including:

 

• Understanding the network baseline
• Testing your security posture and controls
• Preventing network and data breaches
• Ensuring network and system security

 

Acting as an in-depth test of the network, the network penetration test will allow businesses to better understand their network baseline, to test their network and system security controls, prevent attacks and breaches, and ensure network security in the future.

 

A network penetration test is typically performed when a business has a mature security posture, or they believe they have strong security measures in place.

 

Understand The Network Baseline

 

Most of the time, the network’s baseline is identified through the use of scanning tools like port scanners, network scanners, and vulnerability scanners. Understanding a network’s baseline allows the business owner to understand what security controls are working, identify existing vulnerabilities, and provide them additional information about their network.

 

Test Your Security Posture And Controls

 

Unlike a vulnerability assessment, a network penetration test will put your security controls to the ultimate test. A network penetration test’s goal is to breach your network and exploit those vulnerabilities to understand the areas that need improvement.

 

Prevent Network And Data Breaches

 

When a successful penetration test is performed, the results assist a business owner in designing or adjusting their risk analysis and mitigation strategies.

 

This helps the business prevent future breaches because the network penetration test simulates a real-world attacker attempting to break into your systems.

 

Ensure Network And System Security

 

A network penetration test helps to ensure system security in a variety of ways.

For example, a business may have a mature security strategy with strong external defenses but their internal defenses, such as a host-based Intrusion Prevention System (IDS) that prevent attacks from trusted hosts on the network, have been neglected.

Now, we have an idea about what a network penetration test is and the benefits that it has for businesses – Let me know in the comment section if you want to know the process of performing a successful network penetration test.

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