Types of Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing is an essential component of an organization’s comprehensive security strategy.  It provides assistance in detecting the weaknesses and vulnerabilities that are present in the IT architecture of an organization and helps the organization take precautionary measures.  Moreover, companies have the ability to conduct a variety of different forms of penetration testing in order to find every vulnerability in their information technology infrastructure.

In this article, we will further investigate the various sorts of penetration testing techniques that can be utilized by an individual or a company to address a variety of vulnerabilities, weaknesses, threats, and defects. These techniques can be utilized to address a wide range of vulnerabilities, weaknesses, threats, and flaws.

A person can also take security actions by calling a professional VAPT Solutions Provider in India, such as Craw Security, which provides the best penetration services in India. This company is an example of a company that offers these services.

What is Penetration Testing?

Pen testing, which is also frequently known as penetration testing, is a technique that is used to evaluate the integrity of a computer system, network, or web application.  The purpose of a penetration test is to identify vulnerabilities in the system’s security that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain access to restricted areas, steal confidential information, or cause damage to the system being tested.

Penetration testing is a technique that replicates actual attacks on a system in order to identify vulnerabilities and potential entry points for attackers.  This is accomplished through the utilization of a variety of tools and strategies that are designed to replicate the tactics, methods, and procedures (TTPs) that are utilized by genuine adversaries.  Pen testers use a combination of automated and human techniques to identify the vulnerabilities in a system’s security, determine whether or not those vulnerabilities can be exploited, and provide recommendations for how the risks can be mitigated.

Who Performs a Penetration Test?

Penetrators are the individuals that carry out penetration testing. As a result of the fact that penetration testers frequently come from outside the business, they do not enter the pen test without having a solid understanding of the functioning of the system that they are ethically attacking. This allows them to potentially identify any holes that were previously undisclosed.

Although the majority of penetration testers have completed formal schooling in fields like computer science or cybersecurity, there are other pen testers who have learned their skills on their own. In order to perform penetration testing, one must possess a number of talents, such as the ability to code, a grasp of computer networks and the components that contribute to them, and knowledge of security technology. In addition, you should be able to solve problems and communicate well in order to be able to explain the findings to individuals who might not have the same level of technical understanding as you do.

Types of Penetration Testing

Depending on the particular requirements and goals of the organization, one can do one of the 3 types of penetration testing:

1. Black Box Technique
2. White Box Technique
3. Gray Box Technique

1. Black Box Technique

• Black-box penetration testing is a type of penetration test in which the tester does not receive any data at all.
• Under the assumption that the penetration tester is not familiar with the testing environment, black-box testing is carried out.
• It is just a fundamental understanding of the target company that the tester possesses.
• Following the completion of an exhaustive information gathering and analysis, penetration tests are required to be carried out.
• Through the simulation of the actual hacking technique, this test is able to gather data that is readily available to the public, such as the domain name and the IP address.
• It requires a significant investment of both time and money.

There are further 2 Types of Black Box Testing, like the following:

• Blind Pen Testing:

This strategy is a simulation of a real-world cyberattack, with the exception of the fact that the company has given permission for it.  As is the case with an unethical hacker, an ethical hacker is required to discover the majority of the company’s information because the information that is offered is limited.

• Double-Blind Penetration Testing:

Blind testing is a sort of testing that is comparable to this type of testing, with the exception that an individual working for the company is aware of the activity that is taking place.  In order to determine how fast and effectively the security team can track or respond, as well as how well they can prepare the organization for the potential of an actual assault and how well they can mitigate any security flaws, the test is being carried out.

2. White Box Technique

When conducting white box penetration testing, it is necessary to provide the tester with comprehensive network and system data, particularly network maps and identities.  With the help of a white box penetration test, it is possible to simulate a focused attack on a specific system by employing as many different attack vectors as is practically possible.

• During the testing process, you will be provided with a comprehensive grasp of the testing environment.
• It makes it easier to identify weaknesses and problems in a more timely manner.

Moreover, there are 2 further divisions or Types of White Box Testing, such as the following:

1. Announced Testing

• Attempts to penetrate an information technology infrastructure on a client network with the assistance of IT specialists who are fully cooperative and competent in the field.
• There are members of the client organization, members of the security staff, and members of the team conducting penetration testing.
• Check the security architecture to see if there are any hidden vulnerabilities.

  2. Unannounced Testing

• Actions taken without the permission of the IT security team in order to penetrate an IT infrastructure on the client network but without their agreement.
• Pentests are a well-guarded secret, with the exception of the highest management.
• Performs an analysis of the security architecture as well as the availability of the IT professionals.

3. Gray Box Technique

• In the realm of ethical hacking, grey hat hackers may put their skills to use by doing activities such as network security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments.
• Hackers may also exploit their expertise in this type of penetration testing approach to do immoral acts, such as breaking into networks without authority, stealing data, and inflicting harm.
• Despite the fact that they do not have permission, these hackers are able to discover vulnerabilities in systems and then disclose them to the general public or the organization that is affected.
• The behavior of the hacker is a major factor in determining whether or not grey hat hacking is considered illegal. It is possible that they will face legal repercussions if they engage in crimes such as theft, unauthorized access, or any other illegal behavior.
• There are times when it is difficult to differentiate between ethical and unethical hacking, and the term “grey hat hacking” is not always correctly defined. In order to remain responsible, grey hat hackers need to carefully consider the outcomes that could result from their decisions.

Benefits of Penetration Testing

Penetration testing can be beneficial to organizations in a number of different ways, particularly from the perspective of strengthening their safety measures.  The following is a summary of some of the most important benefits that penetration testing offers:

Identify Vulnerabilities	There is a possibility that other approaches to security testing will not be able to identify vulnerabilities, but penetration testing can. This gives businesses the ability to pick and choose whatever vulnerabilities they want to repair and then do so before attackers take advantage of them.
Improve Security Controls	Through the use of penetration testing, businesses are able to discover vulnerabilities in their firewalls, network intrusion prevention systems, and access limitations, among other security measures. With the use of this knowledge, improvements can be made to the procedures, practices, and technologies designed to ensure safety.
Meet Regulatory Requirements	In order to determine whether or not they are in compliance with a variety of legal obligations, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS standards, businesses are required to do penetration testing on a regular basis.
Reduce Risk and Costs	By locating and fixing vulnerabilities, penetration tests can help reduce the likelihood of a security breach and the associated costs, which may include legal fees, damage to the company’s reputation, and revenue that is lost.
Improve Incident Response	Penetration testing has the potential to aid businesses in improving their incident response capabilities by revealing vulnerabilities in response tactics and procedures.
Increase Customer Trust	It is possible for businesses to increase the level of client confidence in the products and services they offer by demonstrating their commitment to cybersecurity through the implementation of routine penetration testing.

The 5 Phases of A Penetration Test

The process of penetration testing typically consists of the following five steps:

1. Reconnaissance: The first stage of the penetration testing process involves the collection and receipt of information regarding the test in areas such as the operating system, source code, and network layout, in addition to information that is readily available to the public.
2. Scanning and vulnerability assessment: At this point, the penetration tester will begin to observe the system in order to locate any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Pen testers have access to specialized tools that are designed to assist them during this finding stage.
3. Exploitation: The pen tester is responsible for carrying out the attack during the exploitation phase, during which they search for vulnerabilities and flaws that can be exploited. In this stage, it is absolutely necessary for the attacker to take measures in order to avoid causing any damage to the system.
4. Reporting: Through the process of reporting and documenting the discoveries made during the assault, the organization is able to review its processes and systems, address any faults that were found, and make adjustments there.
5. Recommendations: Finally, the penetration tester can assist the company in the development of tactics to prevent attacks by providing recommendations based on the findings of the investigation.

Penetration Testing Services

Before choosing a provider that is suited to your needs, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the different types of cybersecurity penetration tests or penetration testing solutions that are available. These tests differ in terms of their emphasis, depth, and duration. Following are examples of common ethical hacking engagements:

1. Internal & External Network Penetration Testing

The evaluation of the on-premises and cloud-based network infrastructure, which includes firewalls, system hosts, and devices like routers and switches. It is possible to describe this as either an internal penetration test, which concentrates on assets located within the corporate network, or an external penetration test, which targets infrastructure that is exposed to the internet. You will need to know the number of sites, the size of the network subnet, and the number of internal and external IP addresses that are going to be tested in order to scope a test.

2. Wireless Penetration Testing

A test that is designed to explicitly target the wireless local area network (WLAN) of an organization, in addition to wireless protocols such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, and Z-Wave. This tool assists in identifying rogue access points, vulnerabilities in encryption, and vulnerabilities in the WPA technology. The amount of wireless and guest networks, locations, and unique SSIDs that are going to be evaluated is something that testers will need to know in order to properly scope an engagement.

3. Web Application Testing

The purpose of this analysis is to identify vulnerabilities in the code, design, and development of websites and custom apps that are supplied over the Internet. These vulnerabilities could be exploited for harmful purposes. Before approaching a testing provider, it is essential to determine the number of applications that require testing, as well as the amount of static pages, dynamic sites, and input fields that are to be evaluated.

4. Mobile Application Testing

This involves testing mobile applications on various operating systems, such as Android and iOS, to uncover problems with authentication, authorization, data leakage, and session handling. The number of API calls, the requirements for jailbreaking and root detection, and the sorts of operating systems and versions that the provider would like an application to be tested on are all things that the provider will need to know in order to scope a test.

5. Build and Configuration Review

For the purpose of locating misconfigurations across web and application servers, routers, and firewalls, a review of network builds and settings is performed now. For the purpose of determining the scope of this kind of engagement, it is essential to have information regarding the number of builds, operating systems, and application servers that will be evaluated during testing.

6. Social Engineering

An evaluation of the capacity of your systems and workers to identify and respond to phishing attempts that are sent or received via email. Through the use of customized phishing, spear phishing, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks, you can acquire specific insight into the potential threats.

7. Cloud Penetration Testing

In order to assist your organization in overcoming problems related to shared responsibility, we will conduct individualized cloud security assessments. These assessments will find and address vulnerabilities across cloud and hybrid systems that may leave important assets vulnerable.

8. Agile Penetration Testing

Continuous security assessments are centered on the developer and are aimed at discovering and addressing security issues across the entirety of the development cycle. Through the use of this agile methodology, it is possible to guarantee that every product release, regardless of whether it is a tiny bug fix or a significant feature, has been thoroughly examined from a security point of view.

How Does Penetration Testing Work?

Penetration testing is the practice of checking all of the vulnerabilities that are occupied throughout an organization’s information technology infrastructures before a genuine cyber adversary discovers the same with the malicious goal of compromising extremely sensitive information.

Additionally, the following is a description of the prime-time approach that is utilized in the functioning mechanism of penetration testing:

1. Planning,
2. Information Gathering,
3. Vulnerability Scanning,
4. Exploitation,
5. Reporting,
6. Remediation.

How Often Should Penetration Tests Be Performed?

The frequency with which an organization should do penetration tests varies, the common guideline is that they should be performed at least once per year.  There is a correlation between the addition of a network’s infrastructure and an increase in the system’s vulnerability; therefore, it is recommended to conduct penetration testing during these conditions as well.

Types of Penetration Testing Tools

The mainstream types of penetration testing tools are mentioned below:

• Vulnerability Scanners,
• Exploitation Frameworks,
• Password Crackers,
• Packet Sniffers,
• Web Application Scanners,
• Social Engineering Tools,
• Wireless Network Tools,
• Forensic Tools, etc.

FAQs

About Different Types of Penetration Testing

1. What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is a cybersecurity practice where simulated attacks are conducted on a system, network, or application to identify security weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

2. What are the main types of penetration testing?

The primary types of penetration testing include:

Network Penetration Testing: Focuses on internal and external networks, including firewalls, routers, and switches.
Web Application Penetration Testing: Targets vulnerabilities in web-based applications, such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS).
Mobile Application Penetration Testing: Assesses the security of mobile apps on Android and iOS platforms.
Wireless Penetration Testing: Examines wireless networks for vulnerabilities, such as weak encryption or rogue access points.
Social Engineering Penetration Testing: Simulates attacks on employees through methods like phishing or impersonation.
Physical Penetration Testing: Tests physical security measures such as locks, access controls, and alarms.
Cloud Penetration Testing: Evaluates the security of cloud-based systems and services.
IoT Penetration Testing: Analyzes security flaws in Internet of Things devices and ecosystems.
3. How are these types of penetration testing different?
Each type focuses on a specific aspect of an organization’s security:

Network: Evaluate the security of communication channels and infrastructure.
Applications: Focuses on vulnerabilities in software and user interfaces.
Human Factors: Assesses employee awareness and susceptibility to social engineering.
Physical Access: Examines physical controls that prevent unauthorized entry.
4. What are black box, white box, and gray box testing?
These are the methodologies used in penetration testing:

Black Box Testing: The tester has no prior knowledge of the target system.
White Box Testing: The tester has complete information about the system, including architecture and source code.
Gray Box Testing: The tester has partial knowledge, mimicking an insider threat or a semi-informed attacker.

5. Why do organizations need different types of penetration tests?

Different penetration tests address specific attack surfaces, ensuring comprehensive security. For example, web application testing focuses on application-layer vulnerabilities, while network testing examines infrastructure security.

6. What is the importance of network penetration testing?

Network penetration testing identifies weaknesses in your internal and external networks, such as misconfigured firewalls, unpatched systems, or weak credentials.

7. What does web application penetration testing involve?

It involves testing web apps for vulnerabilities like:

SQL Injection
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Authentication flaws
Business logic errors

8. How does social engineering penetration testing work?

Social engineering tests simulate attacks on human vulnerabilities, such as phishing emails, phone scams, or physical impersonation, to evaluate employee awareness and response.

9. What is physical penetration testing?

This type of testing assesses physical security measures, such as:

Lock and access control systems.
Surveillance cameras and alarms.
The ability to gain unauthorized entry to secure areas.

10. When should an organization perform cloud penetration testing?

Cloud penetration testing is crucial if your organization uses cloud services to ensure that configurations, access controls, and data protection are robust.

11. Is penetration testing required for compliance?

Yes, many industry regulations, such as PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, recommend or mandate regular penetration testing to ensure compliance.

12. How often should penetration testing be conducted?

It should be done:

Annually.
After significant infrastructure changes.
When adopting new technologies.
In response to emerging threats.

Conclusion

To summarize, we have made an effort to provide you with essential information regarding all of the many kinds of penetration testing techniques by providing an in-depth explanation of each and every method.  The same can call our hotline mobile number of +91-9513805401 and have a conversation with Craw Security’s international-standard penetration testers and ask for a quote for the same. If any individual is really interested in having world-class VAPT Services in India at any certain city or location, they can do so by calling our hotline mobile number.