Pentest (or Penetration Test) is a process of continuous attack on computer systems, networks or applications in order to identify vulnerabilities and assess their level of security. Systems and applications are constantly updated and new vulnerabilities may appear. Therefore, regular Pentest is necessary for the long-term protection of the system. The presentation of information about found vulnerabilities and proposals for elimination should be understandable and clear for the system owner.
Basic concept
Here are a few key factors in Pentest, including PtaaS, that you should pay close attention to first:
- Purpose: Determining the purpose of testing Penetration Testing as a Service is an important factor in Pentest. It is necessary to determine what needs to be tested and what information to obtain as a result of testing.
- Methodology: Defining the right testing methodology allows you to structure and organize the Pentest process. There are various methodologies such as OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual) and OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) that help to test the system effectively.
- Attacker: The experience and skills of the attacker have a direct impact on Pentest results. The attacker must be highly skilled with a deep understanding of various vulnerabilities and attack techniques.
- Approval: It is desirable to have approval and permission from the system owner to conduct Pentest in order to avoid undesirable consequences or legal problems.
- Documentation: An important role in Pentest is documenting the process, vulnerabilities found and recommendations for their elimination. Such documentation will help the system owner to take appropriate security measures.
List of benefits
Pentest Benefits:
- Fixing vulnerabilities: Conducting pentest allows you to identify vulnerabilities in the system and take measures to eliminate them before an attacker can exploit them.
- Reputational protection: If vulnerabilities are discovered and your system is successfully attacked, it can have serious reputational consequences and damage the business.
- Compliance with security regulations: Conducting pentest helps the company to comply with various security regulations and standards, such as PCI-DSS, ISO 27001 and others. This can be important for businesses dealing with sensitive data or financial information systems.
