Understanding the concept of cybersecurity and how to prevent malicious incursions is a must in today's digitized world. A popular strategy used to ensure the robustness of cybersecurity is an 'External Pen testing' or External Penetration testing. This blog will delve deeper into the critical components, the methodology, the benefits, and tools of external Pen testing.

Introduction

Cybersecurity breaches and data leakage are an omnipresent threat to businesses globally. With a more digital-savvy world, the fear of having fragile security networks is a tangible reality; hence the importance of external Pen testing - a simulated attack on a system to identify vulnerabilities before the malicious hackers do.

Understanding External Penetration Testing

External Penetration testing or 'External Pen testing' - is a process where cybersecurity professionals, also known as ethical hackers, perform simulated cyber-attacks on an organization's external-facing technology like websites, firewalls, and email platforms. This front-line defense strategy identifies weaknesses in the armor and ensures that the safeguards in place are continuously reinforced for protection against potential cyber threats.

How Does External Pen Testing Work?

Simply put, external Pen testing is like a fire-drill for your cyber defense system. The tester will attempt to exploit the identified vulnerabilities to assess the damage potential of an intrusion. This technique uncovers the hidden security gaps unlikely to be detected during conventional testing methods. Data from these simulated attacks help the organizations patch up the flaws and bolster their security environment.

Stages of External Pen Testing

Like any other process, external Pen testing has a structured methodology, typically split into five stages:

Planning and Reconnaissance

This initial phase involves defining the scope, goals of the penetration test, and gathering intelligence on the target system.

Scanning

During this stage, the penetration tester attempts to understand how the target application or system responds to various intrusion attempts. This is achieved using static and dynamic analysis.

Gaining Access

Here, the pen tester tries to exploit the vulnerabilities discovered during the scanning phase, using techniques such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, or backdoors.

Maintaining Access

This stage simulates a real cyber attack, where the pen tester tries to remain in the system unnoticed for a prolonged period. The persistent presence allows the tester to gather as much valuable information as possible.

Analysis

Lastly, the information gathered from the penetration test is organized and analyzed. The vulnerabilities exploited, sensitive data accessed, and the duration the tester spent unnoticed are all evaluated.

Importance of External Pen Testing

Iterative application of external Pen testing ensures fortification of the organization's defense system and aligns with the robustness of the threat landscape. The benefits are multifold:

• It exposes vulnerabilities in the system before any real cybercriminal does.
• Prompts organizations to enhance their security measures.
• Helps in ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Prevents financial losses associated with a security breach.

Tools Used in External Penetration Testing

The following tools are often utilized by testers:

• Nmap: Used for network mapping, Nmap captures data from live hosts in the network.
• Wireshark: A powerful packet analyzer, Wireshark captures live network packet data and allows immediate analysis.
• Metasploit: This is a comprehensive tool that delivers information about security vulnerabilities, aiding in penetration testing and IDS signature development.
• Nessus: One of the most popular vulnerability scanners globally, Nessus offers accurate scanning of the target host's vulnerabilities.

In Conclusion

As the complexity and frequency of cyber attacks increase, organizations must conduct regular external Pen testing. It is paramount for organizations to adopt this proactive approach - identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring they are fixed before attackers can exploit them. This practice helps them prepare for the worst-case scenarios, mitigate risk, and protect their valuable assets in this ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.