Imagine you work as a cybersecurity expert. Your job is to keep a company’s sensitive data safe from cyber-attacks. Everything seems to be secure until, one day, you receive a call from the CEO. A potential data breach is happening.
As you investigate, you realize that your computer system’s network has been compromised. Hackers have found access to your impenetrable system.
Avoiding this nightmare scenario is possible had the company conducted regular checks. Evaluating the security of a company’s network, systems, and devices is a crucial role. External and internal penetration testing is a necessity.
Let us explore through this blog what infrastructure penetration testing is. Why is it essential in today’s digital landscape?
Understanding Infrastructure Penetration Testing
Every organization depends on a digital information system that is crucial for its operations. Within this interconnected hardware and software are precious pieces of sensitive information. However, even with their security measures, these structures can still be prone to attacks.
Regular checking of the network for “holes” and “vulnerability”, thus, is a crucial task. To keep infrastructure safe, cyber security personnel use assessment methods.
Infrastructure penetration testing (IPT), or pen testing, is a form of network security assessment. This method uses real-world hacking techniques to find and exploit weaknesses in digital systems. Skilled cybersecurity testers, also called ethical hackers, perform pen testing under guided conditions.
Cybersecurity testers intentionally use various techniques to break into the systems without permission. They may disrupt operations or steal important information but not destroy anything. After the procedure, they will create a stronger security system based on the weaknesses they find.
The Importance of Penetration Testing
Helps to Comply with Regulations and Standards
Penetration testing is essential for businesses that want to comply with industry regulations and standards. If you don’t do thorough security checks, you could lose your license or get in trouble with the law.
Security test will give you a real-world view of your company’s security posture. This can help you get a better appraisal from authorities and clients. It will eventually build your reputation as a company.
Increase the Client’s Trust and Confidence
Customer data must be protected from all threats. This is important because it can affect how would people choose to do business with you. Customers trust businesses that can safeguard their information.
Infrastructure pen testing can help improve your network security and build credibility. A company that is protected from hackers and infiltrators earns people’s trust.
Having a comprehensive security measure shows that you are committed to customer safety and trustworthiness. Customers are more likely to consider your company as a reliable option if you take good care of their data.
Keeps Your Security up to Date
Constant exposure to infrastructure pen testing drives you to check out the latest security trends. It makes you aware of the latest threats and hacking schemes. As technology advances, so do the methods of cyber attackers.
Likewise, this will lead you the discover the updated security solutions and experts in the field. They can help you identify and address any security risks. This can boost the overall security posture of an organization and ensure that they’re equipped with the most up-to-date solutions available.
Ensures Revenue Increase
Any business owner’s concern is protecting their assets from potential loss. And in our digital world hacking and data breaches are a big threat to any operation and revenues.
Digital security improvement because of infrastructure pen testing is a big plus. An upgraded network defense will mean unhampered transactions and sales.
Moreover, it minimizes any unexpected shutdowns that may result from security breaches. Increased revenues can in turn help invest in proactive upgrades of infrastructure security.
Different Types of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing can be applied in two ways.
Internal Penetration Testing
Internal penetration simulates security breaches the way an insider does it. Ethical hackers will access the network with the same level of knowledge as a regular employee. This helps them identify the weaknesses that malicious staff or workers can exploit.
External Penetration Testing
External penetration, on the other hand, emulates cyberattacks from an outsider’s perspective. This assumes that the penetration testers have no clear knowledge of the private network. To be able to break in, they must rely only on publicly available information and tools.
Choosing which penetration test is right for you will depend on your specific needs. external penetration testing is best to measure your defense against outside hackers. while an internal pen test will be good if your concern is a breach coming from within the workplace.
It is also important to note that external and internal testing are not mutually exclusive. Combining the two approaches can you a more reliable idea of your network security.
In addition to these two main types mentioned, testing can also be classified according to areas of vulnerability. These are:
- Network Penetration Testing
- Server Penetration Testing
- Database Penetration Testing
- Wireless Penetration Testing
The Role of Ethical Hackers
Penetration testing is a professional job of cybersecurity experts who have skills in breaking into a secured system. They can technically do hacking but under ethical standards. Thus, we refer to them as “penetration testers” or “ethical hackers.”
Businesses have two main options for conducting infrastructure penetration testing. They can use their in-house cybersecurity team if they have one or hire an external penetration testing company. The experts outside see things the team inside doesn’t and can find flaws. The more your system is subjected to ethical hackers, the better it improves.
Test Your Defenses Now
Fortify your organization’s cybersecurity now with the latest techniques and trends. Apply infrastructure penetration testing or network pen testing as a core element of your system. Before a data breach occurs, focus on checking your network vulnerabilities.
Reducing the risk of cyberattacks saves you from financial woes and potential harm to your company’s reputation. Upgrading your security structure and hiring the best cyber experts are worthy investments. Accidents and breaches don’t just happen.
Test your security defenses now before someone else does. Prevention will always be the most essential option.
Read more about our blogs on cybersecurity concerns.
