Nidhi Morab’s Post

💡 Common Misconceptions About Penetration Testing: Let’s Set the Record Straight Penetration testing (pen testing) is a powerful tool in the fight against cyber threats, but it’s often misunderstood. Let’s debunk some of the most common myths to help you understand what pen testing is—and isn’t. Myth 1: Pen Testing Guarantees Security Reality: Penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities at a specific point in time, but it doesn’t guarantee absolute security. Cybersecurity is a continuous process, and new threats can emerge daily. Pen testing is one layer in a multi-layered defence strategy. Myth 2: Only Large Businesses Need Penetration Testing Reality: Cybercriminals don’t just target large organisations. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly at risk, often because they lack robust defences. Pen testing is crucial for businesses of all sizes to protect sensitive data and maintain customer trust. Myth 3: Pen Testing is Just Running Automated Tools Reality: While tools are part of the process, pen testing involves skilled professionals using manual techniques to mimic the actions of a real-world attacker. This human element ensures a deeper and more accurate understanding of vulnerabilities. Myth 4: Pen Testing is Only for Compliance Reality: While penetration testing is often a compliance requirement for standards like PCI-DSS or ISO 27001, its value extends far beyond audits. It provides actionable insights to strengthen your security posture and reduce risk. Myth 5: Pen Testing Can Disrupt Operations Reality: When conducted by experienced professionals, pen tests are designed to minimise disruption. The process is carefully planned and executed to ensure business continuity while identifying vulnerabilities. By clearing up these misconceptions, organisations can better understand how penetration testing fits into their broader cybersecurity strategy.

The Importance of Penetration Testing Penetration testing should not be considered a one-off thing that is done and forgotten, but rather a crucial part of the cybersecurity strategy. By proactively identifying weaknesses that could be exploited, you can reduce the chances of a successful data breach or incident. Unfortunately, some companies do not recognize the critical role that penetration testing plays in preventing security breaches. They may not feel the need to carry these tests out regularly, citing cost reasons. They fail to realize that the cost of a successful data breach is far greater than that of a penetration test exercise. This would not be limited to financial costs, but would also involve a loss of customer trust and reputation over time. The importance of penetration testing can be summed up through the following benefits: Penetration testing also provides companies with insight into the impact that a cyber attack might have if successful. An experienced penetration tester can show the pathways an attacker could take and the amount of damage they could do within a network if not stopped in time. This allows cybersecurity teams to focus on and justify investments in future security controls. Take the example of the Solar Winds attack in 2021, which is one of the most devastating cyberattacks on record. A penetration test could have discovered the entry vector in their software processes that allowed the attack to succeed. Considering all this, it becomes clear that penetration testing is necessary for any mature cybersecurity framework, and companies that ignore it do so at significant risk. For penetration testing to be successful, a few key things to keep in mind: Use qualified professionals who have experience with penetration testing. Using external resources to get a fully independent viewpoint is recommended instead of relying on internal resources.  Ensure that tests are appropriately scheduled. Choose the scope, the type of methodology that should be used, and the formalize the scope before starting the exercise.  Penetration testing should not be a one-time activity that is done and forgotten about for a year or more. It is essential that penetration testing is carried out routinely and after significant network changes to identify if new vulnerabilities have been introduced. Even a month-old penetration test report can become out of date due to regular changes that have been introduced into a network.  Penetration testing should not be a one-time activity that is done and forgotten about for a year or more. It is essential that penetration testing is carried out routinely and after significant network changes to identify if new vulnerabilities have been introduced. Even a month-old penetration test report can become out of date due to regular changes that have been introduced into a network. 

🔐 October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! 🔐 One crucial aspect of a strong cybersecurity strategy is penetration testing (pen testing). It’s more than just a simulated cyberattack – it’s a proactive way to identify and address vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Check out this article to learn more about the importance of pen testing. #CybersecurityMonth #PenTesting #InfoSec #CyberAwareness #SecurityTesting #RiskManagement #StaySecure #RicohITS #Ricoh

A Beginner's Guide to Penetration Testing for Businesses 📝What is Penetration Testing? Penetration testing is the practice of simulating real-world cyber attacks on an organisation's computer systems and networks to uncover potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. It involves using the same techniques and tools as hackers, but with the permission and consent of the organisation. 📝Why is Penetration Testing Important? Penetration testing offers numerous benefits for organisations, including: Identifying vulnerabilities: it helps uncover vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks. Assessing security controls: pen testing evaluates the effectiveness of an organisation's existing security controls and measures, allowing for improvements where necessary. Compliance: many industry regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS and ISO 27001, may require regular penetration testing to ensure compliance and data protection. Winning contracts: many large organisations now vet the security of those in their supply chain. By conducting penetration tests, you demonstrate that you are not a risk to work with and increase your chance of winning big contracts and tenders. 📝Types of Penetration Tests There are several types of penetration tests that organisations can consider. This includes, but is not limited to: ➡️Network/infrastructure testing ➡️Web application testing ➡️Mobile application testing ➡️API testing ➡️Cloud testing 📝Approaches to Penetration Tests: ➡️Black Box Testing: the tester has no prior knowledge of the target system, simulating a real-world attack scenario. ➡️White Box Testing: the tester has full knowledge and documentation of the target system, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment. ➡️Grey Box Testing: the tester has limited knowledge of the target system, combining elements of both black box and white box testing. 📝Getting Started with Penetration Testing: To get started with penetration testing, organisations should consider the following steps: Define scope and objectives: clearly define the scope of the penetration test and the specific objectives to be achieved. Select a reputable provider: choose a reputable, CREST-accredited penetration testing provider. Establish rules of engagement: develop clear rules of engagement that outline the boundaries and limitations of the penetration test. Remediation: after the penetration test, review the findings and implement the recommended remediation measures to address identified vulnerabilities. If you do not have an in-house team that can perform these remediations, ensure you find a provider that can. By incorporating penetration testing into their cybersecurity strategy, organisations can proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, ensuring the protection of their systems, data, and reputation. #PenetrationTesting #EthicalHacking #CyberSecurity

If hackers are the uninvited guests, consider penetration testing your bouncer at the door. Penetration testing, or "pentesting," is a process where cybersecurity professionals simulate attacks on your systems to identify vulnerabilities. The goal is simple: find the weak points before someone else does. Unlike regular security assessments, pentesting goes beyond scanning for known vulnerabilities. It mimics the strategies and tactics used by real-world attackers. **Why It Matters:** Every business, regardless of size, is a target. Cyber threats are not hypothetical—they are a daily reality. A breach can lead to financial losses, damaged reputation, and regulatory penalties. Penetration testing is your proactive defense. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, you minimize the risk of an attack. **Penetration Testing vs. Other Security Assessments:** Security assessments often rely on automated tools to identify known vulnerabilities. While useful, these assessments can miss critical weaknesses. Penetration testing involves a human element—skilled professionals who think like attackers. This approach uncovers vulnerabilities that automated tools often overlook, providing a more comprehensive understanding of your security posture. **Why Choose Exploit Strike?** At Exploit Strike, we specialize in penetration testing. Our team consists of seasoned professionals who have been in the trenches, understanding how attackers operate. We don’t just find vulnerabilities; we help you understand them and guide you on how to fix them. Penetration testing is not a one-time fix. It’s an ongoing process that should be part of your overall security strategy. Regular testing ensures that as your business evolves, your defenses evolve with it. Don’t wait for an attack to happen. Be proactive and let Exploit Strike help you secure your assets.

Understanding the nuances of penetration testing is crucial in cybersecurity. At VerSprite, we differentiate between vulnerability assessments and true penetration tests, which simulate realistic attack scenarios to evaluate security measures effectively. The PASTA methodology, co-developed by VerSprite’s founder, integrates business impact analysis with threat modeling, offering a comprehensive risk-centric framework. Adhering to industry standards like CREST ensures thorough and consistent security assessments. Robust penetration testing methodologies are essential for protecting our digital infrastructure from cyber threats. By focusing on realistic scenarios and established standards, we can better safeguard our organizations. Read More: https://lnkd.in/epjG5fUE #CyberSecurity #PenetrationTesting #RiskManagement #PASTAMethodology #DigitalSecurity #ThreatModeling #CREST

Manual penetration testing is resource-heavy and often impractical for today’s fast-moving IT environments. With Automated Penetration Testing, you gain: ✅ Continuous assessments to stay ahead of evolving threats. ✅ Attack path mapping to uncover the stealthiest risks. ✅ Actionable results—no false positives, no guesswork. 👉 Read the full blog here: https://hubs.li/Q030k2120 #CyberSecurity #PenetrationTesting #AutomatedSecurity #PicusSecurity

How confident are you that your business' computer systems, networks and applications would survive a cyber attack? Penetration testing can prevent malicious acts by finding weaknesses before the attackers do. Read what Penetration Testing is and why your business needs it in our blog ⬇ #pentesting #penetrationtesting

Penetration tests are a critical component for businesses security roadmap and can help you open the door for further customer conversations around Lumen Security Solutions and solve many business challenges. Penetration testing is a simulated cyberattack performed by a security expert that attempts to gain access to your customer’s network to identify vulnerabilities and suggest personalized solutions before an actual cyberattack can do harm. To learn more, check out the blog post linked below. Lumen is offering four Penetration Test options at discounted pricing through September 30! Channel partners get compensated on selling Lumen Technologies Pen Testing! Let's chat about this amazing offer! #lumen #cybersecurity #pentesting

Penetration testing vs. vulnerability scanning: Understanding the key differences With organizations’ ever-expanding digital footprint, ensuring your environment is secure and protected against exploits and vulnerabilities becomes top of mind for many security professionals. As the security landscape evolves, new technology to protect and detect threats is evolving in step; however, two crucial activities remain at the forefront for the identification of threats: External penetration testing: An authorized simulated attack performed on a computer system to evaluate its security. Internal vulnerability scanning: A process of searching for vulnerabilities from within the business network. Let's break down these activities further: External penetration testing versus internal vulnerability scanning. External penetration testing In its simplest form, external penetration testing can be thought of as simulating a bad actor trying to break into the organization's system from the outside. Penetration testers are hired to mimic real-world attacks using information that can be gathered through publicly available data or data that is provided by the organization. Internal vulnerability scanning While there is value in gaining knowledge from the outside in, the reverse is also true. This is where internal vulnerability scanning differs from external penetration testing. Internal vulnerability scanning checks for weaknesses within a company's internal network. The goal of these scans is to identify issues such as misconfigurations, outdated software and other vulnerabilities that an attack may be able to exploit to gain access to internal data. Simultaneously, vulnerability scanning will also provide insight into whether the organization's patching and deployment processes are sufficient to protect against known vulnerabilities. What are the benefits of a combined approach? Now you might be thinking, is all of this really necessary? The answer is simple, if you want to gain an understanding of the vulnerabilities and potential weaknesses in your environment, yes. Other benefits can be gained from these activities, including the following: External penetration testing provides a real-world feel for how hackers might exploit weaknesses and can even be used to test internal incident response processes. Internal vulnerability scanning provides a wide view picture of the entire internal setup from workstations to servers to give a comprehensive view of security. Identifying misconfigurations and weaknesses early will allow the organization time to patch and remediate findings before attackers can exploit them. In a nutshell, the combination of the services are two building blocks of a robust defense to protect organizations from threats. With these services, along with a layered defense-in-depth approach, organizations can proactively protect their assets in the ever-evolving threat landscape.