Let’s say that, right now, someone was attempting to break into your network…could they do it? Is there some vulnerability present on your network that has left you open to attack? This is a question you need to know the answer to so that you can resolve it.

One way to get this answer is by bringing on a professional to perform a penetration test on your business IT.

What is a Penetration Test?

In essence, a penetration test is where you bring on a security professional who simulates a hack as though they were a cybercriminal so that underlying and unnoticed vulnerabilities can be identified and resolved. Your IT network is a complicated maze of interconnected pieces of hardware and software titles…any of which could very well have vulnerabilities hiding in them. All a hacker needs to do is find one of these vulnerabilities, and you’re in for a very bad time.

As they perform a penetration test, the security professional will go about the task of hacking into your network exactly as a cybercriminal would. This is what is known as “ethical hacking,” and is done so that you can resolve the aforementioned vulnerabilities in your network. This is an important step in preventing data breaches, which is the ideal outcome. It is always better to avoid a security incident than it is to recover from one, which is what makes preventative action so critical.

Penetration Testing Does More Than Just Find Weak Points, Too

While the primary goal of a penetration test is to identify a network’s vulnerabilities, it can also provide other insights as well. For example, a penetration test also applies pressure to your systems, which allows you to see how your infrastructure responds.

Generally speaking, there are three different types of penetration tests:

• When black box testing, the person administering the penetration test goes in with no knowledge of the network or what data they should target. This kind of test might be used as a diagnostic if there are no specific issues being sought out.
• White box testing is the opposite scenario, where the tester goes in with prior knowledge of the network makeup and the specific issues that are being evaluated and resolved.
• Gray box testing is a mix of the two, where the person running the test has some partial knowledge of the network they are trying to breach.

The results of the evaluation are then compiled into a report that details what the tester was able to accomplish, like how far in they managed to get and what data they managed to “steal.” This informs the business about what needs to be fixed so they can, well, fix it, before a real attack comes along and uses the vulnerabilities to its advantage.

Don’t Leave Yourself in the Dark in Regard to Your Security!

With the challenge that cybersecurity can pose for small businesses and their relatively limited resources, you could probably use all the help you can get. Dresner Group is here to provide that help through our comprehensive IT solutions and services, including cybersecurity. Our goal is to make your business as secure and efficient as possible, in large part by developing a robust cybersecurity strategy. A penetration test helps us do that.

Find out more about our services and how they can benefit you by calling (410) 531-6727.