Net Pen Testing – Billings (MT)

There are several steps to the process, including:

1. Planning and Reconnaissance – The first step in network penetration testing involves planning and gathering information. Testers identify the scope and goals of the test, including the systems to be tested and the methods to be used. Reconnaissance involves collecting data about the target network, such as domain names, IP addresses and other publicly available information.
2. Scanning – Once the initial information is gathered, the next step is scanning. This involves using tools to identify open ports, services running on those ports and any potential vulnerabilities. Scanning can be done both externally, from outside the network, and internally, from within the network.
3. Gaining Access – After identifying potential vulnerabilities, testers attempt to exploit them to gain access to the network. This can involve various techniques such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS) and phishing attacks. The goal is to see how far the tester can penetrate the network and what data can be accessed.
4. Maintaining Access – Once access is gained, the next step is to see if the attacker can maintain access and move laterally within the network. This phase involves using tools and techniques to remain undetected while exploring the network and gathering more information.
5. Analysis and Reporting –After the testing is complete, the results are analyzed. This includes identifying which vulnerabilities were exploited, what data was accessed and how long the tester was able to maintain access without detection. A detailed report is then created, outlining the vulnerabilities found, the methods used to exploit them and recommendations for remediation.

This testing is important for a variety of reasons, including:

• Education– Educating your staff through training videos and quizzes is an excellent method for preparing for cyberattacks. Still, experiences that happen in real time during a normal workday can be far more memorable and impactful. True network penetration testing is done when your users aren’t expecting it .Between 75-90% of targeted cyberattacks begin with one email.

Simulated phishing attacks are a powerful way to find where your company’s strengths and weaknesses are. Carefully crafted emails that look and feel like emails your staff are used to receiving are sent to them at varying times of the day. When your staff are focused on their regular responsibilities, juggling deadlines and phone calls, etc., they aren’t paying as much attention to small details these phishing emails present. They aren’t checking for slight differences in the email address or the spelling of the sender’s name. In a rush, they might click on the PDF the “sender” asked for approval on. They are alerted immediately that they failed a simulated phishing attack.

If this were a real life cyberattack, the consequence could be costly in many ways. Since this would be a simulated cyberattack, the consequence to the user is further education requirements and maybe a bit of embarrassment.

• Data Protection –There are several important reasons why data privacy is important for a business of any size. Aside from a myriad of data privacy laws you should always be compliant with, even the smallest of breaches could damage your relationship and trust with your clients.The modern consumer is more internet-savvy than ever before. They are more aware of how their information is used by businesses like Google or Apple, for example. Expectations for how their data is protected and their real perception of how data is protected are two very different things. This is a great opportunity for you and your company to build trusting, long-standing relationships with your clients by ensuring the data that you collect and retain is vigilantly protected and secure.

• Financial Loss – IBM reported findings that the average price of a data break in 2023 was $4.45 million, which is a 15% increase over the previous three years. One singular data breach can demolish a company’s bottom line and cause it to permanently close its doors. Cybercriminals try to stay ahead of the game with tech-savviness and clever approaches. These consequences can include permanent destruction of data, a halt in productivity, theft of intellectual property, fraud, embezzlement and damage to your company’s reputation.

• External Network Penetration Testing – Tests your internet-facing assets like web servers, firewalls, and public IP addresses. It simulates an attacker trying to break into your network from the outside world.
• Internal Network Penetration Testing – Simulates an insider threat or an attacker who has already breached the perimeter. It evaluates risks like lateral movement, privilege escalation, and access to sensitive internal resources.
• Wireless Network Penetration Testing – Assesses the security of wireless access points, Wi-Fi configurations, encryption protocols (e.g., WPA2/WPA3), and connected devices. It can also uncover rogue access points or weak wireless policies.
• Social Engineering Penetration Testing – Focuses on the human element by testing susceptibility to tactics like phishing, pretexting, or baiting. It measures employee awareness and the effectiveness of security training.
• Physical Penetration Testing – Tests your organization’s physical security controls. This may involve attempts to access restricted areas, plug into network ports, or steal devices. It’s often used for high-security environments.
• Cloud Network Penetration Testing – Assesses cloud-based infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP). It examines misconfigurations, identity & access management, virtual networks, and exposed cloud services.
• IoT/OT Network Penetration Testing – Targets Internet of Things (IoT) or Operational Technology (OT) networks used in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, etc. These often run legacy or proprietary protocols with weak security.

Penetration tests can be designed in different ways and should be constructed to take the unique features of your network into account. If the test is well designed, a penetration test report will clearly explain how the tester obtained entry to your server and how they were able to take over your computers. The penetration test report gives context and explanation to the vulnerabilities that have been identified.

With a blueprint that shows how to remediate the risk and prevent an attacker from getting to the servers, most business owners are able to move forward with confidence and a reasonable, actionable budget for ongoing security measures.

Sometimes security measures must be geared to current high-profile threats that have cropped up in the marketplace. But that depends on the type of business, the data that may be at vulnerable and the risk appetite of the business owner. If news headlines about a current threat cause anxiety, but are unlikely to affect your business, spending the money to guard against may be something you can put off for a while. All IT security upgrades come with a price tag, and priority should be given to the vulnerabilities and threats that are most likely to affect your organization.

As cybersecurity threats continue to grow, most organizations should consider including penetration testing in their regular IT security protocols. Penetration testing goes hand in hand with vulnerability scanning, but they differ in key ways and are most effective when used together to provide a detailed picture of an organization’s cybersecurity risk profile.

Though they should be part of every organization’s cybersecurity management plan, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are not widely practiced today except in regulated industries where such measures are required.

Vulnerability scans examine your IT network – including hardware and software – and identify any areas that are vulnerable to attack. But the reports often are long and highly technical, so the prospect of shoring up the system can seem overwhelming.

Penetration testing reveals how a cyberattacker could actually get into your system through one of those vulnerabilities. This can help prioritize which vulnerable areas of your system should be addressed first. The penetration test gives you a real-world picture of what a cyberattacker could do, what data they could get hold of and how you would be impacted by that.

Think of it like protecting your house. A vulnerability scan may show that all your doors and windows have weak or missing locks, and your basement bulkhead doesn’t lock at all. A penetration test would simulate an actual break-in, potentially showing that the first-floor windows are the most likely point of entry for a criminal. The results of the penetration test would reveal that installing new window locks on the first floor would be the most effective immediate measure to secure your home and strengthening the security on your doors and basement bulkhead might be next.

National standards on vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are defined by several organizations such as the nonprofit Center for Internet Security (CIS) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. However, none of these standards are required or enforced, and organizations should determine frequency based on several factors:

• Industry – Does your business operate in an industry that collects substantial personal data from customers, such as healthcare or financial services? Or do you have hundreds or thousands of employees whose personal information is contained in human resources files?
• Volume of data – Does your organization process high volumes of data every day, and do you practice good data protection measures such as daily backups?
• Risk – Is your industry a frequent target of cyberattacks?

Generally, a mid-sized company should do vulnerability scanning at least once per quarter, and a penetration test every year. That’s a starting point that will provide a roadmap to security upgrades that can be done each quarter to continuously improve the system’s safeguards. Each quarterly scan will verify the effectiveness of the improvements made since the last quarter.

After the penetration test is completed, the testing team typically delivers a detailed report that outlines their findings. This report includes a high-level executive summary for non-technical stakeholders, as well as a technical breakdown of vulnerabilities discovered, their severity, how they were found, and steps for remediation. The organization’s internal IT or security team should carefully review this report, assess the risk each issue presents, and begin prioritizing fixes based on severity and potential business impact.

In some cases, a debrief session is scheduled with the penetration testers to walk through the findings, clarify any technical details, and answer questions. The organization may also initiate internal reviews to determine why certain vulnerabilities existed and whether additional controls or policies need to be introduced. If significant changes or fixes are implemented, a retest may be scheduled to verify that the vulnerabilities have been properly resolved. The ultimate goal is to use the results of the test to strengthen the organization’s overall security posture and reduce future risk