Our skilled cybersecurity professionals use a combination of automated tools and manual techniques to identify attack paths and vulnerabilities that threat actors could exploit.

Penetration testing, often referred to as pen testing, is a proactive cybersecurity assessment technique designed to evaluate the security of your IT infrastructure, applications, and network systems. Unlike traditional security assessments that focus on identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses, penetration testing goes a step further by simulating real-world cyberattacks to uncover potential security risks and gaps. 

At its core, penetration testing involves authorized security professionals, known as ethical hackers or penetration testers, attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in a controlled manner to assess the effectiveness of existing security controls and defenses. By emulating the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by malicious actors, penetration testers can identify security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and areas of potential risk within your environment. 

Our penetration testers don’t just find vulnerabilities—they provide a clear view of vulnerabilities that might otherwise go undetected, along with actionable recommendations for remediation to strengthen your security posture that can’t be uncovered any other way.

Pentest services offer numerous benefits to organizations seeking to enhance their cybersecurity posture and mitigate potential risks. Some of the key advantages of conducting penetration testing include:

• Identifying security weaknesses: Penetration testing helps you identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and weaknesses in your IT infrastructure, applications, and network systems before they can be exploited by malicious actors. By uncovering security gaps, you can prioritize remediation efforts and strengthen your overall security defenses.
  
  
• Mitigating security risks: By proactively identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, penetration testing helps you mitigate the risk of data breaches, cyberattacks, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. By closing security gaps and implementing recommended remediation measures, you can reduce the likelihood and impact of security incidents.
  
  
• Validating security controls: Penetration testing validates the effectiveness of existing security controls and defenses, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), access controls, and encryption mechanisms. By simulating real-world cyberattacks, you can assess whether your security controls are properly configured and functioning as intended.
  
  
• Compliance and regulatory requirements: Many regulatory frameworks and industry standards, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001, require you to conduct regular penetration testing as part of your compliance obligations. Penetration testing helps you demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and standards by identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities.
  
  
• Enhancing incident response preparedness: Penetration testing helps you improve your incident response preparedness by assessing your ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate security incidents and breaches. By simulating real-world cyberattacks, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your incident response procedures, communication protocols, and escalation processes.
  
  
• Security awareness and training: Penetration testing can serve as an effective tool for raising security awareness and training employees on cybersecurity best practices. By simulating phishing attacks, social engineering tactics, and other common attack vectors, you can educate employees about the importance of security awareness and empower them to recognize and report suspicious activities.
  
  
• Protecting brand reputation: A successful cyberattack can have devastating consequences for your brand’s reputation, leading to loss of customer trust, financial repercussions, and legal liabilities. Penetration testing helps you protect your brand reputation by identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, helping reduce the risk of data breaches and security incidents.

NuHarbor’s penetration testing experts understand the various approaches and phases that result in successful testing.

Penetration testing follows a structured approach, consisting of several phases designed to systematically assess your security posture and identify potential attack paths. Although the exact timeline may vary based on factors such as testing scope, system complexity, and resource availability, the following are common phases involved in performing penetration testing.

1. Planning and preparation

• During this initial phase, the testing objectives, scope, and methodology are defined in collaboration with your stakeholders.
• The penetration testing team gathers relevant information about the target systems, applications, networks, and infrastructure to understand the attack surface and identify potential entry points.
• Any legal and compliance considerations, and rules of engagement, are established to ensure testing is conducted ethically and within regulatory boundaries.

2. Reconnaissance and information gathering

• In this phase, the penetration testing team conducts passive and active reconnaissance to gather information about your target environment.
• Passive reconnaissance involves collecting publicly available information, such as domain names, IP addresses, and employee email addresses, to identify potential targets.
• Active reconnaissance involves probing target systems for vulnerabilities, such as open ports, services, and network configurations.

3. Enumeration and vulnerability analysis

• During this phase, the penetration testing team performs vulnerability scanning and assessment to identify potential security weaknesses in the target systems and applications.
• Automated scanning tools scan for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and outdated software versions.
• Manual inspection and verification of findings are conducted to validate the severity and exploitability of identified vulnerabilities.

4. Exploitation

• The penetration testing team attempts to exploit identified vulnerabilities to gain access to target systems or sensitive information.
• Exploitation techniques may include password cracking, privilege escalation, SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and remote code execution (RCE).
• The goal is to demonstrate the impact of successful attacks and assess the effectiveness of existing security controls in detecting and preventing unauthorized access.

5. Post-Exploitation and lateral movement

• After successful exploitation, the penetration testing team conducts post-exploitation activities to further assess the compromised systems and maintain persistence.
• Post-exploitation techniques may involve lateral movement within the network, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and backdoor installation.
• The objective is to simulate real-world attack scenarios and assess your organization's ability to detect and respond to advanced threats.

6. Reporting and remediation

• Once testing is complete, the penetration testing team compiles a comprehensive report detailing the findings, including identified vulnerabilities, exploitation outcomes, and recommendations for remediation.
• The report typically includes an executive summary, technical findings, risk ratings, and prioritized recommendations for mitigating identified vulnerabilities.
• Your stakeholders review the report, prioritize remediation efforts based on risk and business impact, and implement recommended security controls and countermeasures.

7. Frequent communications

• During the entirety of the assessment, your penetration testing team is only an email or phone call away.
• The lead tester will provide daily start and end emails, so you know when the testing begins and concludes each day and so you have an overview of the activities that are going to be performed that day.
• Even after the assessment is complete, the penetration testing team will still answer questions or jump on calls if clarification of a finding is requested.

NuHarbor Security has cybersecurity experts who can support your penetration testing efforts regardless of the type of testing you need or choose.

Choosing between manual penetration testing and penetration testing as a Service (PTaaS) depends on your specific needs and resources. Manual testing offers deep, expert-driven insights and tailored reporting but can be time-consuming and costly. PTaaS provides continuous, scalable, and cost-effective security testing, though it may lack the depth and customization of manual testing. For many organizations, a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both methods can offer the most comprehensive security assessment. Additionally, automated penetration testing delivers quick, consistent, and broad security assessments by leveraging advanced algorithms and tools, but it may miss nuanced vulnerabilities that skilled human testers could uncover.

Manual penetration testing

Manual penetration testing is conducted by skilled cybersecurity professionals who simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities within your systems, networks, and applications.

Pros

• Expert insight: Human testers can think creatively and adapt to different scenarios, providing nuanced insights that automated tools might miss.
• Comprehensive assessment: Manual tests can be tailored to specific needs, offering a detailed and thorough evaluation of security posture.
• Custom reporting: The findings and recommendations are often highly customized and detailed, catering to both technical and executive audiences.

Cons

• Time-consuming: Manual tests may require significant time to plan, execute, and report.
• Higher costs: Due to the intensive and comprehensive nature of manual testing, it often comes with a higher price tag compared to automated solutions.
• Limited frequency: Organizations may only conduct manual penetration tests periodically (e.g., annually), which can leave gaps in ongoing security assurance.

Penetration testing as a service (PTaaS)

PTaaS combines automated tools with periodic manual testing to provide continuous, on-demand penetration testing services. This approach leverages cloud-based platforms to deliver real-time insights and ongoing security assessments.

Pros

• Continuous monitoring: PTaaS offers continuous testing and monitoring, allowing for real-time detection and remediation of vulnerabilities.
• Cost-Effective: The combination of automation and periodic manual testing can be more cost-effective than traditional manual tests alone.
• Scalable: PTaaS can easily scale to accommodate the needs of your growing organization, providing flexible and adaptable security testing.
• Faster results: Automated tools can quickly identify common vulnerabilities, providing faster initial results and allowing for more frequent testing.

Cons

• Automation limitations: Automated tools may miss complex or context-specific vulnerabilities that skilled human testers would identify.
• Less customization: While PTaaS platforms offer many benefits, they may not always provide the same level of customization as fully manual testing.
• Dependency on technology: The effectiveness of PTaaS relies heavily on the quality of the automated tools and the underlying technology infrastructure.

Automated penetration testing

Automated penetration testing uses software tools to identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications without human intervention.

Pros

• Speed: The automated tools quickly scan and identify common vulnerabilities, providing rapid results.
• Cost-Efficient: Generally, this automation is less expensive than manual testing due to reduced labor costs.
• Frequent testing: Automated testing enables regular and ongoing testing, helping to maintain up-to-date security assessments.

Cons

• Limited depth: Automation may miss complex or nuanced vulnerabilities that require human judgment and creativity to detect.
• False positives: Automated tools can produce false positives, requiring manual verification and potentially increasing workload.
• Less comprehensive: This option lacks the tailored and detailed evaluation that manual testing offers, potentially overlooking context-specific security issues.

At NuHarbor, we work with you to plan testing that aligns with your business priorities and schedule. 

Goals

• Identify vulnerabilities: The main objective is to uncover security weaknesses within your systems that could be exploited by malicious actors. This includes identifying software bugs, misconfigurations, and flaws in security policies.
• Assess security posture: Penetration testing provides a thorough assessment of your overall security stance. It evaluates the effectiveness of existing security measures and helps determine how well your systems can withstand attacks.
• Test incident response: A penetration test evaluates the readiness and effectiveness of your incident response plans. It ensures that your team can detect, respond to, and recover from security breaches in a timely manner.
• Enhance security awareness: By exposing vulnerabilities and demonstrating potential impacts, penetration testing raises awareness among your employees about the importance of cybersecurity. It encourages a proactive security culture within your organization.

Outcomes

• Detailed findings report: After the test, you receive a comprehensive report detailing all identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and potential impacts. The report includes clear and concise descriptions, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Actionable recommendations: The report provides practical, actionable recommendations for addressing identified vulnerabilities. These may include specific technical fixes, policy changes, or additional staff training.
• Improved security measures: Implementing the recommended actions leads to strengthened security measures, reducing the risk of future breaches. The test results help prioritize security investments and improvements.
• Regulatory compliance: Penetration testing can help your organization meet regulatory and compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO standards. The test ensures that your security practices are aligned with industry regulations.
• Enhanced incident response: By testing your incident response capabilities, a penetration test helps identify gaps and areas for improvement. This leads to more effective and efficient handling of real-world security incidents.
• Increased stakeholder confidence: Demonstrating a commitment to proactive security measures builds trust and confidence among customers, partners, and regulatory bodies. It shows that your organization is dedicated to protecting sensitive data and maintaining strong cybersecurity defenses.

We act as a trusted and strategic security partner combining expert analysis and advice with best-in-class technologies, so you don’t have to figure it all out in-house.

Engaging external vendors for pentest services can be a strategic decision with far-reaching benefits. By tapping into the expertise, objectivity, and creativity of external specialists, you can unlock the full potential of penetration testing and gain invaluable insights into your security posture. From leveraging specialized skills to mitigating risk and ensuring compliance, the advantages of partnering with external vendors extend far beyond traditional security assessments.

• Expertise and specialization: External vendors bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and specialized skills to the table, employing certified ethical hackers and security professionals with in-depth knowledge of the latest attack techniques, vulnerabilities, and defensive strategies.
  
  
• Independence and objectivity: External vendors offer an impartial and objective perspective, operating independently from internal biases, politics, and preconceptions. This means penetration tests are conducted with rigor and integrity, uncovering security vulnerabilities without bias.
  
  
• Fresh perspective and creativity: External vendors bring a fresh perspective and creativity, approaching security assessments with innovative problem-solving techniques. Their hacker mindset and creative approaches can uncover hidden security threats and provide valuable insights for improving security defenses.
  
  
• Scalability and flexibility: External vendors provide scalability and flexibility, customizing penetration testing services to specific requirements and resource constraints. They can adapt to your evolving needs and scale testing efforts as needed, offering specialized services tailored to industry, technology, or compliance requirements.
  
  
• Risk management and liability mitigation: Engaging external vendors helps mitigate risk and liability associated with security assessments. They carry professional liability insurance and adhere to industry standards, reducing exposure to legal and financial risks.
  
  
• Compliance and regulatory requirements: Many regulatory frameworks mandate independent third-party penetration testing. External vendors assist in meeting regulatory requirements and demonstrate compliance with standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO 27001, ensuring tests are conducted according to guidelines and best practices.

Penetration testers typically possess a range of certifications that validate their expertise and proficiency in cybersecurity. These certifications ensure that they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to effectively identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities. Here are some of the most common and respected certifications in the field:

• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): Administered by Offensive Security, the OSCP certification is renowned for its rigorous hands-on exam, testing the ability to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in various systems.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Provided by (ISC)², the CISSP certification covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics, including risk management, cryptography, and security operations, making it valuable for penetration testers who need to understand comprehensive security frameworks.
• Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT): Another certification from the EC-Council, CPENT focuses on advanced penetration testing techniques, including network and web application testing, and the ability to plan and execute attacks in real-world scenarios.
• CompTIA PenTest+: This certification by CompTIA validates the skills required to perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessment, focusing on practical knowledge and hands-on experience in identifying and addressing security weaknesses.
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN): Offered by the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), the GPEN certification emphasizes the use of the latest penetration testing tools and techniques, as well as the legal and ethical aspects of testing.

Our expert testing team will help you determine the right frequency based on your security needs and budget.

Determining the appropriate frequency for penetration testing involves considering several factors tailored to your specific context. Regular intervals for testing should be established to proactively assess the security posture and uncover potential vulnerabilities. High-risk industries or environments with stringent compliance mandates may require more frequent testing, possibly quarterly or semi-annually, to address evolving threats effectively.

Penetration testing should coincide with significant changes in the IT infrastructure, such as major system upgrades, software deployments, or migrations to cloud environments, to identify new security risks introduced by these changes. You should also remain aware of emerging threats and vulnerabilities, responding promptly by adjusting testing schedules as needed.

Compliance obligations under regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, or GDPR may dictate specific testing frequencies to ensure adherence to industry standards. Embracing continuous monitoring and risk assessment practices alongside scheduled penetration testing allows for a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities in real time.

Ultimately, determining the frequency of penetration testing should be guided by a risk-based approach, factoring in your unique threats, vulnerabilities, and risk tolerance to maintain a strong security posture effectively.

We will help you determine the most appropriate frequency for conducting penetration tests depending on the unique attributes and size of your organization.

The frequency and timing of penetration testing play a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures and safeguarding against evolving threats. The appropriate timing for conducting penetration tests varies depending on the size, maturity, and risk profile of your business. From startups navigating the early stages of development to enterprise-sized organizations managing complex IT infrastructure, each business must assess its unique cybersecurity needs and establish a proactive approach to security testing.

Startups

For startups, penetration testing should be conducted as early as possible in the development lifecycle, ideally, before launching your products or services to the market. Startups often have limited resources and may prioritize rapid development and deployment over security considerations. However, investing in penetration testing early on can help you identify and address security vulnerabilities before they become serious risks. By incorporating security testing into your development process from the outset, you can build a strong foundation for security and mitigate potential threats as they grow.

Midmarket businesses

Midmarket businesses typically have established products or services and may be experiencing rapid growth and expansion. As your operations become more complex, midmarket businesses face increasing cybersecurity risks and compliance requirements. Penetration testing should be performed on a regular basis, at least annually, or whenever significant changes are made to your IT infrastructure or applications. Conducting periodic penetration tests helps you proactively identify and remediate security vulnerabilities, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and maintain the trust of your customers and partners.

Enterprise-Sized business

Enterprises operate on a larger scale and often have extensive IT infrastructure, complex networks, and diverse applications. With a larger attack surface and higher stakes, enterprise-sized businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks and data breaches. Penetration testing should be conducted regularly, with the frequency depending on your risk profile, industry regulations, and compliance requirements. Your enterprise may perform penetration tests quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, in addition to conducting tests after major system updates or changes. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity testing, you can identify and mitigate security risks effectively, safeguard sensitive data, and protect your brand reputation.

Our testing teams will work with you to avoid any disruptions to your business operations.

Ensuring that penetration testing activities do not disrupt business operations is essential. Penetration testing can be scheduled during off-peak hours or times of low network activity to minimize disruptions to normal business operations. By conducting tests during periods of reduced user activity, you can mitigate the impact on critical systems and services.

Penetration testing, regarding application testing, should be performed in isolated testing environments or sandboxes to prevent unintended consequences on production systems. By creating replica environments that mirror your infrastructure, testers can safely simulate attacks without risking damage to active systems. You can prioritize penetration testing efforts on critical systems, applications, or network segments to minimize disruptions to less essential areas. Focusing on high-value assets and sensitive data allows testers to identify and address security vulnerabilities without disrupting non-essential business functions. Additionally, the testing environment for application testing can usually be utilized with the active testing without the need to halt work and productivity.

Effective communication and coordination between the penetration testing team and your relevant stakeholders are essential to ensure that testing activities are intentional and coordinated. By informing key personnel about the timing and scope of testing, you can minimize surprises and proactively address any potential disruptions. Continuous monitoring and oversight of penetration testing activities allow you to promptly address any unexpected issues or disruptions that may arise during testing. Maintaining open lines of communication and providing ongoing support to the testing team ensures that testing proceeds smoothly without impacting business operations.

Our team of highly trained experts are here to partner with you and will gladly help assess which activity makes the most sense for you and when.

Penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are both essential components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, but they serve distinct purposes and offer different levels of insight into your security posture. Understanding the differences between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning is crucial to effectively assess and manage cyber risks.

Penetration testing

Objective: Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, simulates real-world cyberattacks to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities in your systems, applications, and networks.

Methodology: Penetration testing involves a systematic and controlled approach to testing, where skilled testers attempt to bypass security controls, gain unauthorized access, and assess the impact of successful attacks.

Depth of analysis: Penetration testing provides a comprehensive evaluation of your security defenses by emulating the TTP’s used by real threat actors. Testers go beyond surface-level vulnerabilities to uncover hidden weaknesses and assess the effectiveness of defensive measures.

Human expertise: Penetration testing relies on human expertise and creativity to uncover complex security vulnerabilities that automated scanning tools may overlook. Testers leverage their knowledge of attacker methodologies and emerging threats to identify and exploit weaknesses in target systems.

Outcome: The primary outcome of penetration testing is to identify and prioritize security vulnerabilities based on their likelihood of exploitation and potential impact on your organization. Penetration testing reports typically include actionable recommendations for remediation and improving security defenses.

Vulnerability scanning

Objective: Vulnerability scanning is a proactive security measure that scans your systems, applications, and networks to identify known security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and weak points.

Methodology: Vulnerability scanning involves using automated tools to scan target systems for known vulnerabilities based on predefined signatures, patterns, or vulnerability databases.

Depth of analysis: Vulnerability scanning provides a surface-level assessment of security vulnerabilities by identifying known weaknesses and common misconfigurations. Scans may include checks for missing patches, outdated software versions, insecure configurations, and common security missteps.

Automation: Vulnerability scanning is highly automated, allowing you to conduct regular scans on a scheduled basis without significant manual intervention. Automated scanning tools can efficiently scan large networks and generate reports with detected vulnerabilities.

Limited context: Vulnerability scanning lacks the contextual understanding and creativity of human testers, focusing primarily on identifying known vulnerabilities without considering your unique risk profile or potential attack vectors.

Outcome: The main outcome of vulnerability scanning is to generate a list of detected vulnerabilities and weaknesses, along with severity ratings and recommendations for remediation. Vulnerability scan reports provide you with insights into your security posture and help prioritize patching and mitigation efforts.

The approach you choose will have a significant impact on the insights you gain. Our testing experts will help you review all your options to select the one that best serves your team.

Penetration testing encompasses various methodologies that vary in terms of the level of access and knowledge provided to the testers. Understanding the differences between black box, gray box, and white box penetration testing can help you choose the most suitable approach based on your specific requirements and objectives.

Black box penetration testing

In black box penetration testing, testers simulate the role of an external attacker with no prior knowledge of the target system's internal architecture, code, or configurations. This approach closely mimics real-world cyberattacks, where adversaries attempt to breach systems without insider information. Black box testers start with minimal information, such as your public-facing assets, and conduct reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, and exploitation techniques to identify and exploit security weaknesses. Black box testing provides a realistic assessment of your external security posture and helps uncover vulnerabilities that external attackers could exploit.

Gray box penetration testing

Gray box penetration testing combines elements of both black box and white box testing, providing testers with limited access and knowledge of the target system. Testers are typically granted partial access to internal resources, such as network diagrams, system documentation, or credentials, to simulate the perspective of an authenticated user or insider threat. This approach allows testers to focus their efforts on critical areas of the network or applications while still maintaining a level of realism like black box testing. Gray box testing strikes a balance between the realism of black box testing and the efficiency of white box testing, making it suitable for a comprehensive assessment of your security defenses. Gray box testing is often recommended, especially when a client has doubts about which testing method to choose, since the return on investment is so high.

White box penetration testing

White box penetration testing, also known as transparent box testing or crystal box testing, provides testers with full access and knowledge of the target system's internal architecture, source code, configurations, and documentation. Testers are typically granted administrative privileges or access to backend systems, allowing them to conduct a thorough analysis of your security controls and defenses. White box testing enables testers to perform in-depth code reviews, configuration audits, and architectural assessments to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses from an insider's perspective. This approach is well-suited for a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of your security posture, particularly for critical systems or applications.