External penetration testing services

External penetration testing, also known as external pen testing, is a security assessment process in which ethical hackers simulate cyberattacks on your external-facing network and applications. The goal is to identify and exploit vulnerabilities that could be accessed by external attackers, helping assess your security posture and providing insights for remediation.

External penetration testing is important because it helps identify security weaknesses in internet-facing assets, such as websites, servers, and firewalls. By proactively finding and fixing these vulnerabilities, you can prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, and other cyberthreats, ultimately protecting sensitive information and maintaining your reputation.

Internal penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities within your internal network, simulating an insider attack. External penetration testing targets your external-facing systems and networks, simulating an attack from outside your organization.

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies known vulnerabilities in your systems and networks. External penetration testing is both a manual and automated process where testers actively attempt to exploit vulnerabilities to evaluate the effectiveness of security measures. For additional information on the difference, read this blog, “Penetration Testing versus Vulnerability Scanning: What’s the Difference.”

The frequency of external penetration testing depends on various factors, including your organization’s risk profile, regulatory requirements, and changes in the network environment. Generally, it is recommended to conduct external pen tests at least once a year or more frequently if there are significant changes to the network infrastructure or after implementing major updates or new applications.

External penetration testing should be conducted by qualified and experienced cybersecurity professionals, often referred to as ethical hackers or penetration testers. These individuals or teams can be part of an internal security team or hired from specialized external security firms. It is crucial to ensure that the testers have relevant certifications and a proven track record in performing external pen tests.

The duration of an external penetration test varies depending on factors such as the scope of the test, the complexity of your network and systems, and the goals of the test. Typically, an external penetration test can take anywhere from one to four weeks to complete.

• Open ports and services: Unnecessary or improperly secured ports and services.
• Weak passwords: Easily guessable or default passwords.
• Unpatched software: Outdated applications or systems with known vulnerabilities.
• Misconfigurations: Incorrectly configured security settings on servers, firewalls, and other network devices.
• Injection flaws: SQL injection, command injection, and other injection attacks.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS): Flaws that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications.

• Executive summary: An overview of the testing process, key findings, and high-level recommendations.
• Detailed findings: A comprehensive list of identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and the method used to exploit them.
• Impact analysis: An assessment of the potential impact and risk associated with each vulnerability.
• Recommendations: Actionable steps for remediation and improving security posture.
• Supporting evidence: Screenshots, logs, and other evidence collected during the testing process.

• Define clear objectives and scope: Ensure all stakeholders understand the goals and boundaries of the test.
• Provide necessary access: Supply testers with relevant information and access permissions as needed. 
• Notify relevant parties: Inform IT staff and other relevant teams about the upcoming test to avoid confusion and ensure cooperation.
• Back up data: Ensure that critical data is backed up to prevent any potential data loss during the testing process. 
• Review and update policies: Ensure that security policies and incident response plans are current and well-documented. 

You can effectively address the findings of an external penetration test by prioritizing vulnerabilities identified as critical and high severities given to their potential impact on your security posture.

Implementing the recommended fixes is crucial, which involves applying necessary patches, updates, and configuration changes as advised in the test report. Additionally, you should focus on improving your overall security practices by adopting best practices for secure coding, network configuration, and access management.