Cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks can cause businesses to suffer serious financial losses. The most secure way to protect IT infrastructure from such attacks and business-level financial damages is through regular penetration testing processes. So, what should you consider when getting penetration testing services? The ideal answers to this question await you in the rest of our content.
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing is a controlled attack simulation performed by a cybersecurity expert. The purpose of this simulation is to identify vulnerabilities that malicious individuals might exploit to steal information or take complete control of the system. Penetration tests not only discover vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure but also reveal how resistant the system is against real attacks.
Penetration tests can be performed on an organization’s entire IT infrastructure or focused on specific parts. In this context, simulations can be designed targeting external networks, servers, web and mobile applications, and IoT devices. The results obtained after the simulation are analyzed and compiled into a comprehensive report. The report provides recommendations on what changes can be made to security policies to address existing vulnerabilities.
What should be Considered Regarding Penetration Testing Services?
When choosing among penetration testing companies, it’s important to consider the following criteria:
Certification
Certification is the most important criterion to consider when selecting a cybersecurity firm for penetration testing services. Having internationally recognized certificates provides an advantage for the testing company.
To verify the service provider’s compliance with legal regulations and quality standards, you can first check if they have TSE approval. Companies with TSE penetration testing authorization certificates conduct IT infrastructure auditing processes in full compliance with ethical and legal responsibilities.
References and Experience Level
Another aspect as important as certification in choosing a penetration testing firm is references and experience level. The easiest way to learn about a company regarding these two criteria is to examine their previous work. Having service experience in your industry facilitates mutual understanding between both parties in process management and helps develop ideal solutions. While focusing on experience level, the individuals who will perform the penetration test, especially the team manager, can also be evaluated individually.
Test Scope
Test scope is among the criteria to consider when selecting a penetration testing firm. When determining the penetration test scope, objectives are first defined. The main assets tested during the simulation process are internal and external networks. In addition to networks, penetration protocols can be applied to assets such as payment systems and user databases within the simulation scope. APIs and microservices, IoT devices are other assets that can be tested.
After defining the objectives, it’s time to determine which type of test will be applied. In this context, black box testing allows for attack simulation from outside without any system information. Gray box testing provides partial information about specific parts of the system. White box testing thoroughly checks the system with full access, including source codes.
It’s important to plan the penetration testing application in a way that won’t disrupt workflow.
Confidentiality and other Legal Requirements
A non-disclosure agreement must be signed with the service provider before conducting penetration testing. During contract establishment, assurance should be provided especially on two issues. The first is how the obtained data will be used. The second is that the obtained data cannot be shared with third parties.
In addition to the confidentiality agreement, permission from the company’s owner or authorized person must be obtained before testing to ensure legal compliance. Otherwise, process-related issues may arise due to unfulfilled legal requirements.
Reporting and Result Analysis
The penetration testing firm should be able to provide detailed reporting and result analysis. The expected sections in the test report are:
- Identified vulnerabilities and their technical explanation,
- Effects of vulnerabilities according to risk classes (high, medium, low),
- Possible attack scenarios and recommendations for solutions.
Recommendations provided to address weaknesses identified through penetration testing should be detailed step by step in the report. After the report presentation, the TSE-approved penetration testing organization makes a presentation about the test findings. During this presentation, questions from company officials are clearly answered to ensure awareness of risks is clarified.
Retesting and Verification
Penetration testing is a long-term process that requires careful planning of every detail. Therefore, the process doesn’t attempt to identify possible vulnerabilities in the system and its components with just a single test. Penetration testing experts with high industry experience perform retests to ensure that vulnerabilities found during the initial simulation are completely eliminated. Such applications aimed at understanding the extent to which IT infrastructure vulnerabilities have been addressed are called verification tests.
Cost Analysis
The final consideration when getting penetration testing services is cost analysis. When determining who will perform the test that will reveal your IT infrastructure’s security status, it’s beneficial not to rely solely on the price criterion. By conducting a cost analysis, you can easily determine how the service scope can help reduce your expenses. Comprehensive testing and detailed reporting are particularly necessary to determine the security status of critical systems.
Contact our experienced team now to learn about penetration testing and our service scope!
