Network Penetration Testing | Hackers for Hire!

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Is your network safe? Are you concerned about hackers sneaking into your computer network? A network penetration test can be useful. Imagine your network as a house. A penetration test is similar to hiring someone to try to hack into something. They look for weak points, such as unlocked doors and windows. This allows you to identify and fix problems before the bad people or hackers do. Think about Target. Hackers gained access to their network through another company. This generated major problems for Target. To prevent this from happening to you, you must regularly scan your network for vulnerabilities. This blog post will provide an easy explanation of network penetration tests. We will also demonstrate how to do one step by step. Let's get started.

What is a Network Penetration Test?

A penetration test, or pen test, simulates cyberattacks on your system. This process helps you to find the weak spots of your system that can be attacked by hackers easily, so you can prevent future attacks. Actually, it is like a safety check for your computer network. The experts will play the hacker`s role, using their tricks and trying to get to your system. In this way, you`ll understand if your network is safe or not. The purpose of the network penetration test is to find the problems and fix them before hackers find them! 

Today's networks resemble large puzzles with many diverse components. Everything from your computer to your phone can be connected. A penetration test ensures that all of these components function together safely.

Why is a Network Penetration Test Useful?

It is useful because it provides lots of advantages for your system network. Let's examine what are its benefits:

• Understand your network: A penetration test is similar to taking a detailed look at your home to determine whether it is secure. It allows you to understand where your network is strong and where it is weak.

• Test your security: A penetration test is essentially a practice attack. It tries to hack into your network to assess how effective your security is. This allows you to identify and solve issues before real hackers do. 

• Prevent trouble: Finding weak points in your network allows you to address them before bad guys discover them. This helps you avoid a major issue, such as a data leak. 

• Keep your network safe: A penetration test examines your complete network, from outside to within. It ensures that everything works together to protect your information. For example, you could have strong locks on your front door (external security), but you may have forgotten to lock a window (internal security). A penetration test would reveal that weak point.

Now that we know why penetration tests are important, let's see how it works.

How Does Network Penetration Testing Work?

A network penetration test is like a practice attack on your computer network. It's a way to find weak spots before real hackers do. Here, we tell you how does it work in detail:

1. Planning: First, the testers determine which sections of your network they are going to explore and what they are looking for. They consult with people who know your network well to devise a strategy.
2. Testing: Next, the testers use specialized tools to study how your network operates. They try to figure out how it will react if someone attacks it.
3. Simulated Attacks: The testers will then pretend to be hackers and attempt to break into your network. They employ the same tactics that real hackers do, such as trying to decode passwords or discovering ways to bypass your protection.
4. Measuring the harm: If the testers gain access to your network, they attempt to determine the amount of harm they can do. They may try to steal information or get control of your system. They also see how long they can stay on your network without being detected.
5. Reporting: After the test, the testers submit a report about their findings. They discuss the issues they discovered and how to resolve them.

What Are the Steps in a Network Penetration Test?

People often confuse network penetration tests and vulnerability assessments, but you should know that they are different from each other. A penetration test usually happens after you've fixed the problems found in a vulnerability assessment. It's like a final check to make sure your network is truly secure.

To do a successful penetration test, 4 steps need to be completed:

Step 1: Planning and Preparation

What do you want to achieve and what are your purposes for performing this test? You should answer these questions before starting this test. There are three main types of tests:

1. Black Box Test: In the black box test, the testers know nothing about your network. It's like they're a regular hacker trying to break in.
2. Gray Box Test: In this test, the testers have some information about your network, as an employee would.
3. White Box Test: In the white box test, the testers have complete access to your network's information, including its blueprints.

You should choose one of these tests based on your needs. You also need to specify when and where the test will take place. Will it occur during or after working hours? Will it be installed on your main system or as a test version? It's essential to evaluate how this will affect your business operations. Finally, decide whether the testers should simply uncover problems or attempt to exploit them. Some tests just seek for errors, while others attempt to determine how much damage can be done. You should document all of these details before beginning the test. Let`s see what is the second step. 

Step 2: Gathering Information About the Target

Once you've determined the goals and scope of the penetration test, it's time to begin learning about the targeted system. This is termed reconnaissance.

Reconnaissance

Consider reconnaissance as a detective gathering clues. You will utilize tools to scan the network and look for flaws. These tools can detect open doors (ports) and broken windows (vulnerabilities) in the network's defenses.

You could also try to trick others into giving you information (social engineering). This is related to pretending to be someone you are not to get secret information from others.

Discovery

After gathering information, you will analyze it to determine how to gain access to the network. It's the same as putting together a puzzle to determine the best path inside. For example, if you're evaluating a company's network, you may use tools to scan their website and identify open ports. You could then use those flaws to get access.

Step 3: Attacking the Network

In this step, we have gathered the necessary information. Now it is time to use all the gathered information for starting the test. Here we should simulate a real cyberattack. 

Technical Attack

You'll employ specialized tools and strategies to exploit the flaws you discover. For example, if you identified a system with an unauthorized open port, you may attempt to get access to it via SQL injection or buffer overflow attacks. Once you've logged in, you can attempt transmission to other parts of the network.

Social Engineering Attack

Sometimes, technology isn't the only weakness. People can be tricked into giving away information or clicking on dangerous links. This is called social engineering. You might send fake emails (phishing) to employees, hoping they'll reveal sensitive information or download malware.

In technical or social engineering, no matter which method you use, in any case, the main goal is accessing sensitive information or systems. If you can't do this, it doesn't mean the test failed. Understanding where your network is strong and weak is also valuable information.

After the test, you'll create a report detailing what you found and how the network can be improved.

 Let`s go to the final step of network penetration testing. 

Step 4: Reporting and Recommendations

After the test, a report should be created that shows details about the entire process, from the beginning to the final results. It includes a list of vulnerabilities found, the evidence collected, and most importantly, recommendations on how to fix these problems. 

The report should maintain information so that using this report, you will understand how these vulnerabilities impact your business. The penetration tester will assess the risks and provide guidance on how to prioritize the fixes. This might involve installing software updates, changing passwords, or implementing new security policies. The final step is to work with the business to implement the recommended changes and improve overall security.

Note: If you think a successful penetration test is always the one that shows the weaknesses you`re wrong! Sometimes this test proves that your system network is strong. So, it gives you confidence and you`ll ensure the security of your system. 

Essential Elements of a Pen Test Report

As we mentioned before, creating a clear and informative report as the last step of this test is very important. But you may want to know what should be included in this report. So, the following key factors should be involved:

1. Executive summary: A concise summary of the test's findings expressed in simple terms for non-technical audiences. This should emphasize the most serious risks and the possible effects on the business.
2. Risk analysis: Risk analysis is a detailed explanation of the detected vulnerabilities, including their severity and how they can be attacked.
3. Impact assessment: a review of the potential impacts of each exploited vulnerability, including significant business impact.
4. Remediation recommendations: Specific advice for addressing detected vulnerabilities and improving overall security. These recommendations should be prioritized according to the risk they present.

This information must be provided in the report, so that report enables leaders to understand their organization's security position and take the necessary actions to secure their assets.

How Much Does External Network Penetration Testing Cost?

The cost of an external network penetration test can vary greatly. The size and complexity of your network, the depth of the assessment, and the testing team's experience all have an impact on costs.

In general, a full evaluation will cost between $4,000 and well over $100,000. Some providers charge per device, with prices ranging from $150 to $1,000. However, this can soon mount up in larger networks. It is essential to get estimates from multiple penetration testing companies to compare rates and services. Remember that the cheapest option is not necessarily the best. Investing in a thorough examination by knowledgeable personnel can result in significant long-term savings by preventing a costly data breach. 

Conclusion

Network Penetration Testing is similar to paying someone to breach into your property and uncover weak points. Experts pretend to be bad guys to gain access to your network. They employ the same tactics used by official hackers. This helps you understand how secure your network is. First, they plan the exam. Then they collect information about your network. Next, they attempt to break in. Finally, they create a report outlining what they discovered and how to repair it. Everyone who has a computer can benefit from this check-up, from small businesses to big companies.