How to take penetration test to next level

There is much about the penetration testing tools and the methods to use to ensure security. However, running a successful and effective penetration test requires technical management effort and also enough planning to assure the tests are architected and executed successfully. Here are few steps to consider implementing for network penetration test:

Comprehensive network assessment

This is a typical penetration test that is the basic level. This test is done on the network and systems of a company from outside and inside, though many companies prefer only the external assessment. A comprehensive good pen test approach is to conduct an external test in association with an internal test and to explore the internal vulnerabilities that can be exploited. This pivot approach ranging from external to internal provides required visibility of the layered security program.

Plan the tests to get effective results

Treat a penetration test and obtain a professional or management resources so that you can allocate the information security and IT time. However, even on having the right dedicated resources, there is a need for a well-structured penetration test requiring upfront time to plan the test details, align test goals with management and a team to conduct the test, take the review and to provide the details to the team. In case the IP addresses are incorrect, then the IP ranges will miss the test coverage. So, ensure to give all the details correctly.

Create an alignment and communication plan

In case the test includes a social engineering component, understand who will involve in this test. If it is a phone test, pick a proper time and phone numbers. In case your company works on different shifts at different staffing levels, call the right people and provide them advance knowledge relating the penetration test and also about the social engineering individual tests. Ensure the right people to be aware of the information security response and to know what is going on. This will help the team to know the way to escalate related results of pen test appropriately.

Explore what-if scenarios

Check for holes or gaps and do not fall into the penetration testing operandi without assessing anything. Definitely, a pen test is good to test a possible vulnerability. Plan a monitoring plan while taking the pen test. As the pen test is going on and is conducted by an external team to test layered defenses, it is a good choice for you to monitor the test and also the incident response program. Thus, documenting the sensors, systems and teams triggered alerts during the pen test helps. Plan for action review after the test with the incident response analysts to review the monitoring and sensors working and use these lessons learned to update security program information.

After pen test

Ascertain the results of pen tests are done perfectly and they provide a report on a common template. A company may use the same provider for pen testing. It is crucial to provide proper background and context to get proper results. In case the vulnerabilities double, add endpoints scanned so that there is a double check. If you are able to break the endpoints, you can understand in detail the context and enjoy better results.