Network Penetration Testing – FAQs

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 – A penetration test can educate an organization in several ways ultimately helping to strengthen its cybersecurity posture, build awareness and guide strategic investments. Specifically, penetration testing:
  • Reveals real world vulnerabilities – Penetration tests simulate real-world cyberattacks, revealing technical weaknesses that might otherwise go unnoticed. In doing so, pen tests not only expose these vulnerabilities but also demonstrate the potential consequences if exploited. It will show how an attacker could move through your systems, access sensitive data or disrupt operations.
  • Provides a benchmark for continuous improvement – Penetration tests offer a clear benchmark for measuring your organization’s security maturity over time, so you can track progress and identify areas for investment. The insights gained also drive meaningful improvements in policies and internal processes ultimately ensuring that security measures evolve alongside emerging threats and operational needs.

• Data protection – 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 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 pen testing (black box) simulates an outsider attack with no internal knowledge specifically targeting public-facing assets like firewalls, web servers and exposed IPs. The goal is to test your perimeter defenses just like a real-world hacker would.
• Internal network pen testing (gray box) assumes the attacker is already inside and mimics insider threats or post-breach scenarios. It evaluates risks like lateral movement, privilege escalation and access to sensitive systems across the internal environment.
• Wireless pen testing targets Wi-Fi infrastructure by testing encryption standards (WPA2/WPA3), rogue access points, weak passwords and misconfigurations. This type of testing helps secure the airspace around your offices and facilities.
• Social engineering pen testing (red team tactics) puts the human firewall to the test. Using phishing, pretexting, baiting or tailgating, this approach evaluates how susceptible your employees are to manipulation and how well your cybersecurity training and protocols hold up under real pressure.
• Physical security pen testing assesses the effectiveness of an organization’s physical barriers and procedures. Testers attempt badge cloning, lockpicking or even plugging into open network jacks. This type of testing is ideal for facilities with high security requirements.
• Cloud pen testing examines cloud environments like AWS, Azure, or GCP for misconfigured storage, open ports, weak IAM roles, and exposed services—everything from S3 buckets to serverless functions.
• IoT/OT network penetration testing targets Internet of Things (IoT) or Operational Technology (OT) networks used in manufacturing, energy, healthcare and other industries. This type of penetration testing often uncovers outdated firmware, legacy protocols and exploitable gaps in device-to-network communication.

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 network and how they were able to take over your server and/or 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. 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 these tools differ 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. The reports are often long and highly technical, so the prospect of shoring up the system can seem overwhelming.

Penetration testing reveals how a hacker 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 hacker could do, what data they could access and how you would be impacted.

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 while 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.