First, let’s clarify that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the frequency of penetration testing depends on various factors, such as the size and complexity of your organization, the sensitivity and value of your assets, the threat landscape, and your risk appetite. However, here are some general guidelines and best practices that can help you determine the right frequency of pen testing for your organization.

Quick penetration testing frequency guidelines

• Follow industry standards and best practices: There are several industry standards and frameworks that provide recommendations on the frequency of pen testing, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which requires annual penetration testing for merchants and service providers, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which recommends periodic pen testing at least every six months for critical systems. These standards and frameworks can serve as a baseline for your organization, but you should also consider your specific needs and risk profile.

• Consider your risk profile and threat landscape: The frequency of pen testing should be based on the likelihood and impact of a security breach. If your organization handles sensitive and critical data, such as financial or personal information, or if you operate in a high-risk sector, such as healthcare or defense, you may want to conduct pen testing more frequently to mitigate the risks and protect your assets. On the other hand, if you have a low-risk profile and a mature security program, you may be able to reduce the frequency of pen testing without compromising your security.

• Evaluate your security posture and changes: Pen testing is not a one-time event, but rather a continuous process that should be integrated into your overall security strategy. Therefore, you should not only conduct pen testing regularly, but also use the results to identify and remediate vulnerabilities, and monitor and update your security controls. You should also consider conducting pen testing after significant changes to your systems or environment, such as new deployments, updates, or acquisitions, to ensure that your security is not compromised.

In other words

Think of pen testing as a check-up for your security. Just like you visit the doctor regularly to prevent or detect health problems, you should conduct pen testing regularly to prevent or detect security problems. If you neglect your security check-ups, you may suffer from security issues that can be costly and damaging to your organization. On the other hand, if you invest in regular security check-ups, you can proactively address vulnerabilities and maintain a strong security posture.

Conclusion

Penetration testing frequency for your organization depends on various factors, including industry standards, risk profile, threat landscape, and security posture. While annual pen testing may be sufficient for some organizations, others may need to conduct it more frequently to mitigate the risks and protect their assets.

If you’re looking for penetration testing services, Threat Potential would love to help you, contact us today!

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Vulnerability Scanning

Think of vulnerability scanning as a surface-level check-up, similar to a general physical examination at the doctor’s office. It involves using automated tools to scan a system or network for known vulnerabilities, but it does not attempt to exploit those vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanning is a quick and cost-effective way to identify potential vulnerabilities, but it does not provide a comprehensive analysis of the system’s security.

Penetration Testing

On the other hand, penetration testing (also known as “pentesting”) is a more in-depth and hands-on approach to identifying vulnerabilities. It involves simulating a real-world cyberattack on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities and assess the organization’s overall security posture. Penetration testers use a variety of tools and techniques to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, and they provide a detailed report with recommendations for addressing those vulnerabilities.

So, which technique is right for your organization? It really depends on your specific needs and goals. Vulnerability scanning is a good starting point for identifying potential vulnerabilities, while penetration testing provides a more comprehensive analysis of an organization’s security posture. Both techniques are important for ensuring the security of your systems and networks, and it’s often recommended to use a combination of both. (Vulnerability scanning can help identify potential vulnerabilities, while penetration testing can help confirm and exploit those vulnerabilities.)

Conclusion

In summary, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are both important tools for identifying vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems and networks. Vulnerability scanning is a quick and cost-effective way to identify potential vulnerabilities, while penetration testing provides a more in-depth and hands-on analysis of an organization’s security posture. No matter which technique you choose, it’s important to regularly assess the security of your systems and networks to ensure they are protected against potential cyber threats.

We hope this article helped you understand penetration testing vs vulnerability scanning. If you’re looking for penetration testing or vulnerability scanning services, Threat Potential would love to help you, contact us today!

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Think of an ROE as a roadmap for a penetration test. Just as a roadmap guides you to your destination, rules of engagement provide guidelines and expectations for the test.

ROE’s are important

So, why are ROE’s important for a penetration test? Without clear guidelines, there is a risk of unintended consequences, such as data loss or system downtime. By establishing rules of engagement, we can ensure that the test is conducted in a controlled and ethical manner. This is not only great for the client organization but also the testing organization.

Key elements

Here are a few key elements to consider when establishing ROE’s for a penetration test:

• Scope of the test: This should outline the specific systems and assets that will be tested, as well as any exclusions.
• Test methods and tools: This should specify the methods and tools that will be used during the test, as well as any restrictions.
• Communication and reporting: This should outline the communication channels and reporting process for the test.
• Termination of the test: This should specify the conditions under which the test will be terminated, such as if any critical vulnerabilities are identified or indicators of a previous or on-going compromise exist.

Conclusion

The rules of engagement document is a crucial part of any penetration test. They provide a clear understanding of the test parameters and help ensure a safe and controlled testing environment. Don’t risk unintended consequences – establish clear rules of engagement for your penetration test. This could be the determining factor between a successful testing experience and a failure with costly ramifications.

If you’re looking for penetration testing services, Threat Potential would love to help you, contact us today!

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An external penetration test simulates an attack from outside the organization’s network, mimicking the actions of an external hacker. This test focuses on the security of the organization’s internet-facing assets, such as websites, web applications, and cloud services.

On the other hand, an internal penetration test simulates an attack from within the organization’s network, such as from an employee or contractor. This test focuses on the security of the organization’s internal systems and infrastructure, including servers, workstations, and network devices.

So, how do you choose between an external and internal penetration test with a limited budget? Here are some factors to consider:

• Scope of the test: If your organization’s main concern is the security of its internet-facing assets, an external penetration test may be more appropriate. However, if you want to assess the overall security of your internal network, an internal test may be more comprehensive.

• Threats and risks: Consider the specific threats and risks that your organization faces. For example, if you have a large number of external clients or partners, an external test may be more relevant. On the other hand, if you have a high turnover rate or a large number of contractors, an internal test may be more appropriate.

• Regulations and compliance: Some industries, such as healthcare and finance, have strict regulations and compliance requirements that mandate specific types of penetration testing. Make sure to check the requirements for your industry and consider them when making your decision.

Ultimately, the choice between an external and internal penetration test will depend on your specific security needs and budget. It may be helpful to consult with a security expert to determine the best approach for your organization

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Most authorities will say that you should test before placing a system or software into production and after any major change. We all agree those are key milestones that should trigger security testing in any IT risk management program but there’s more to it than that. It’s less about how often you should test but more about a continuous conversation about the ever-changing attacker landscape, your organizations risk appetite, and general forward thinking.

Attacker Landscape

You understand what’s valuable in your organization, unfortunately attackers do too. Attackers can range from rogue employees to criminal empires, so understanding the threats against you is a critical component to your testing regimen and pace. Researching current security trends and the associated threat actor’s behavior can give you a clue as to the depth and frequency of testing required.

Risk Appetite

As the saying goes, “just enough security is the right amount of security”. It doesn’t make good business sense to spend more on a security control than what you are securing. Strive to put controls in places that give you the most bang for your buck. Keep in mind that risk in general can never be completely eliminated but you can take measures to drastically reduce the impact or likelihood of an attack. Taking a defense in depth approach to protect your most valuable assets is a great starting point and a best practice.

Forward Thinking

Key business endeavors can often create new attack vectors and invite threat actors you didn’t anticipate. Does your organization plan to acquire another business, move into a new industry, or on the verge of an R&D breakthrough? Knowing where your organization is headed can better prepare you by creating a solid foundation for your security program.

Regrettably risk management isn’t a set it and forget it activity and testing cadence is made up of a culmination of decisions. Continuous conversation and review may be what keeps your organization’s brand out of the notorious section of the news tomorrow.

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Patch

Configuration management can be difficult but ensure that you know what exists on your network, remove what you don’t need, and that security patches have been applied. Applying security patches is imperative to the overall health of your network and the data that’s held within. However, a vulnerability scan will do a couple of things for you, inventory the items in scope and discover common vulnerabilities. Due to the success rate that outdated versions bring, this is usually an attacker’s first stop.

Change default credentials

As a penetration tester, attempting default credentials to any system that we come across is second nature. Failure to change default credentials is often attributed to simply setting the system up and merely forgetting to change it afterwards. This is where you can implement some rigor around processes such as utilizing hardening checklists. Anytime a project, application, or system is introduced into your environment, you should ensure a hardening checklist is incorporated in the plan. Often applications and appliances have more than just one default account so make sure not to forget those as well.

Implement a password filter

Password spraying has become a common way to infiltrate organizations. Having a 10-character minimum, mixed case, numbers, and special character sounds decent right? Well “Password123!”, “Spring2020!”, “YourCompanyName2020!” satisfy the requirements but doesn’t reduce the likelihood of an attacker guessing those credentials. If you force users to rotate their password often then they are more likely to fall into this trap of using seasons, years, or simply incrementing numbers to keep up with their password. Be sure to utilize a tool that will blacklist these type passwords. Don’t forget to not allow them to use part of their name or username as a password as well!

Implement MFA

As with anything, multi-factor authentication is not a “hacker proof” solution. However, it does limit a significant number of attacks and increases your overall security posture. The good news is that the MFA realm has become commonplace in most applications and the implementation of those solutions have improved dramatically over the last couple of years. It’s important that you test these as backup options and some weak secondary factors can be easily circumvented. Check out MFA and your business to learn more.

Have separate administrative accounts

I’ve found that practicing least privilege is seldom found during penetration testing. However, it has led to a significant amount of domain takeovers and one of the big eye-openers that our clients often see. Any administrators in your domain should have separate accounts, one to perform administrative duties and one as their regular user account. The accounts should always have separate passwords and the administrative account should have additional security features applied such as password length, complexity, and additional monitoring.

Have unique local administrator accounts

Once an attacker has landed on a machine it’s usually trivial to obtain local passwords or to perform privilege escalation. If your organization is using the same local administrator credential on all your machines, then it makes for moving laterally in your network extremely easy. Doing this manually would be over burdensome for many but luckily there’s a more automated solution and best of all it’s free! Microsoft came out with Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) to assist in rectification of this issue. It essentially automates the process of changing the passwords for every local administrator account and stores it for you.

Summary

The goal of your penetration test is to measure the security of your organization and provide actionable steps towards improvement. Even if you don’t get a sterling report back, it’s much more important to know what your risks are. Comment below and let us know how you improve your penetration test results!

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