Penetration Testing

PENETRATION TESTING

Understand your most dangerous security risks and mitigate them

ADVANCE TESTING FROM GUESSWORK TO PRACTICE

A penetration test simulates an attack on your organization’s network infrastructure or applications. The aim of performing such a test is to determine what attackers can access and what trouble they can cause. By emulating a real-world attacker, we demonstrate where security gaps exist and procedures fail, how much access an attacker could gain, and how you can properly secure your systems.

During these controlled tests, an experienced consultant reviews the security of your network infrastructure and applications, using the same tools and techniques that an attacker would use. Testing can even be performed covertly, without the awareness of the people who manage and operate your systems.

TYPES OF TESTING

Internal

An internal penetration test replicates an attack from within your network. The attacker might be a rogue employee or vendor who is authorized to access to your network, or an attacker that gets past your external security and accesses to your internal network.

EXTERNAL

An external penetration test simulates your organization being targeted over the internet, from anywhere, by anyone in the world. An external attacker may specifically target your organization, or because it runs a particular technology or uses a certain systems configuration.

WHY PENETRATION TESTING IS IMPORTANT

Penetration testing is one of the most effective forms of security testing because it validates the controls responsible for protecting your network. It will help your organization:

  • Determine the effectiveness of your security controls.
  • Identify weaknesses in those controls.
  • Demonstrate the impact of those weaknesses.

A penetration test reviews both the people and technology aspects of your security program. It evaluates whether firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and other controls are effective and configured correctly to prevent unauthorized access to your systems. The testing also verifies whether all necessary security patches have been applied, as well as whether your IT staff can detect an attack and respond appropriately.

One important value of a penetration test is its ability to demonstrate the potential consequences of any security vulnerabilities. Executives and managers sometimes overlook reports from IT auditors or staff that indicate the damage potential of a malicious attack. The results of a penetration test, however, capture their attention by showcasing how attackers can get into your systems and what they can do there, for instance, taking control of a financial server or stealing sensitive information. This takes security concerns out of the hypothetical level into practical reality.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Our penetration tests are scaled to meet the needs of your business. Sikich offers an array of critical testing components that can be included as part of a comprehensive penetration test or conducted as stand-alone services.

Our Methodology

TEST YOUR SYSTEMS FOR VULNERABILITIES