Cyber threats are growing in number and sophistication, with cybercrime damage expected to reach $10.5 Trillion by 2025. As such, there is a pressing need for proactive measures to anticipate and mitigate potential security breaches.
One such proactive measure is external penetration testing.
What is External Penetration Testing?
An external penetration test, also known as an external pen test, is a security assessment that simulates how an external threat actor would attack an organization’s systems.
This test primarily targets an organization’s perimeter systems. It focuses on external-facing assets such as public-facing websites, internet-accessible hosts, and web applications. If you can identify any security weaknesses and potential threats in these assets, you can improve your cyber defenses.
Cyber attack simulations also help your business identify the potential impact of a successful breach. This approach provides actionable feedback and remediation advice for enhancing overall security.
Internal vs External Pen Testing
Internal and external penetration testing are two fundamental approaches in cybersecurity, each targeting different aspects of your security infrastructure.
External pentestingfocuses on your business’s external-facing assets, such as public websites, external network services, and internet-facing applications. The primary goal is to identify and rectify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers from outside the organization. It shows how an attacker would attempt to access sensitive data through the internet.
In contrast, internal testing targets your internal network. This test assumes that an attacker has gained access to the internal network or that an insider threat exists.
It evaluates the security from the inside, checking how much damage a compromised system could cause. It will also tell you how far an attacker could move laterally within the network. This testing also assesses internal security controls and the ability to detect and respond to insider threats or breaches.
External testing prevents breaches from outside, while internal testing identifies and addresses risks leading to data loss or operational disruption. Both forms of testing are essential for a comprehensive security strategy. Together, they ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated from both outside-in and inside-out perspectives.
External Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning
External penetration testing and vulnerability scanning have distinct purposes and operate in different ways.
External penetration testing is a more in-depth, manual process. Experienced testers actively identify and exploit vulnerabilities in your company’s external-facing assets, such as websites and network services.
In contrast, vulnerability scanning is an automated process, designed to identify potential vulnerabilities in networks, systems, or applications. It uses software tools to scan for known security weaknesses and generate a list of issues that need attention. This process is generally faster and less resource-intensive than penetration testing. It gives your organization a broad overview of its security posture.
Vulnerability scanning only identifies potential vulnerabilities. Penetration testing, on the other hand, attempts to exploit them. It mimics an attacker’s actions to understand the actual damage they could cause. This method shows how far an attacker could get into the system. It also checks the organization’s ability to detect and respond to the attack.
While vulnerability scanning can be conducted frequently, penetration testing is typically more sporadic. The former provides quick insights while the latter offers a detailed, realistic assessment of an organization’s defenses against deliberate attacks.
Types of External Penetration Tests:
Black-Box Testing:
This replicates an attack from a hacker with no prior knowledge of the system’s architecture. The testers do not have access to any internal information of the targeted systems, much like a real external attacker.
White-Box Testing:
Assumes the attack is being carried out by someone with extensive knowledge of the system. The penetration tester has complete access to a comprehensive blueprint of the organization’s network infrastructure, source codes, IPs, and even the algorithms in use.
Gray-Box Testing:
This is a blend of both black and white-box testing. The tester has partial access to the system’s internals, often mimicking the threat level of an external party that has gained significant, but not complete, system information.
These various methodologies are formulated to offer your organization a holistic understanding of your systems’ vulnerabilities. By selecting the most suitable method, you can focus on detailed areas of concern, improving security measures to safeguard against both known and unknown cyber threats and protect valuable data.
Features of External Penetration Testing
External penetration testing employs a systematic approach to imitate attacks, revealing potential weaknesses in network defenses and external applications. Here’s a closer look at the distinct features that make this type of testing indispensable:
Real-World Attack Simulation
This copies real-world attack scenarios that an attacker could use to gain unauthorized access from outside the organization. This helps identify weak points in network defenses and external applications.
Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessment
Testers use a variety of tools and techniques to scan for vulnerabilities in public IPs and domain names. They test for common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and buffer overflows, which are typical entry points for hackers.
Remote Testing
Unlike internal testing, external tests are performed remotely, mimicking the actions of an actual attacker trying to infiltrate the organization’s systems from outside the network perimeter.
Detailed Reporting
After testing, you get a detailed report which outlines discovered vulnerabilities, the severity of each issue, and recommendations for remediation to help you prioritize security enhancements.
Minimized disruption
Care is taken to ensure that testing does not disrupt normal business operations or cause downtime, making it a non-intrusive yet effective method to strengthen external security defenses.
How Long Does an External Pen Test Take?
The duration of an external network penetration test can vary significantly depending on several factors. Typically, a basic external pen test ranges from a few days to a couple of weeks. Factors that influence the timeframe include the complexity and size of the network, the depth of the test required, and the specific goals set by the organization.
For smaller networks with limited scopes, a test can be completed relatively quickly. In contrast, larger networks with more comprehensive testing requirements may require a more extended period to thoroughly examine all potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, the testing process can be extended if the security testing uncovers significant security issues that need deeper investigation.
You should also account for the time needed after testing to review the findings, implement remediation measures, and potentially retest the system to ensure all vulnerabilities have been adequately addressed.
External Penetration Testing Methodology and Process
The process of external penetration testing is meticulously planned and follows a systematic approach. While there may be some variations in specific steps, a typical penetration test often includes the following stages:
Reconnaissance
This is the initial phase where the penetration tester, or pentester, gathers as much information as possible about the target network and systems. It could involve methods like port scans or checking public databases for any known vulnerabilities.
Scanning
Here, the pentester uses penetration testing tools like Nmap, Wireshark, Nessus, and Burp Suite to establish a detailed understanding of the organization’s system. These tools perform different tasks such as mapping out the network, identifying live hosts, or checking for open ports and services.
Exploiting
This is the stage where the actual attacking begins. The pentester uses the information collected in the scanning phase to exploit vulnerabilities using such tools as Metasploit. They attempt to gain access to the target system or network, mimicking the actions of a malicious attacker.
Post-Exploitation
After gaining the required access, the penetration tester explores the network to find out what kind of valuable data or resources they can access and to what extent, simulating what a real attacker might do once they’ve breached the system.
Reporting
In this concluding stage, the pentester provides a comprehensive report, detailing their findings, including the weaknesses identified, data that could be accessed, and necessary remediation advice.
Benefits of External Penetration Testing
External penetration testing offers numerous tangible benefits to your business, shaping a sturdy foundation for your cybersecurity framework:
Identify Vulnerabilities
Allowing you to focus on the highest risks that matter to your business through asset classification, risk prioritisation and remediation.
Mitigate Risks
Pentesting gives your business insight into the potential impact of an attack. That helps you prioritize risks and allocate resources intelligently to enhance your cybersecurity.
Comply with Regulations
Certain industries need regular pentesting for reg compliance. If you maintain this compliance, it protects you from legal penalties and boosts reputation
Save Money
Data breaches come with a price tag. You might need to halt operations due to the breach or pay fines because you lost your customers’ data. If you identify vulnerabilities early, you can prevent costly data breaches and the associated remediation costs.
Manage Vendors
External penetration tests will give you a holistic picture of your cybersecurity, including the security efficiency of third-party services. They will tell you if your vendors are introducing vulnerabilities into the system.
External Penetration Testing Checklist
Having a checklist for external penetration testing is very important for thoroughly evaluating an organization’s cybersecurity defenses. Here are the steps it needs to document:
This checklist ensures thorough preparation, execution, and follow-up for effective external penetration testing.
How to Select The Best External Penetration Testing Service Provider?
1.Define Your Requirements
- Scope of Work: Clearly define what you need tested (networks, applications, systems, etc.).
- Objectives: Determine your goals for the penetration test (identify vulnerabilities, compliance, etc.).
2. Evaluate Expertise and Experience
- Credentials and Certifications: Look for providers with certified professionals (e.g., OSCP, CISSP, CEH).
- Industry Experience: Ensure they have experience in your specific industry and understand relevant regulations and threats.
- Case Studies and References: Request case studies or references from similar projects they have successfully completed.
3. Methodology and Approach
- Testing Methodology: Understand their approach to penetration testing. Look for providers that follow recognized methodologies such as OWASP, NIST, or PTES.
- Tools and Techniques: Ensure they use a combination of automated tools and manual testing to uncover vulnerabilities.
- Reporting: Review sample reports to ensure they provide clear, actionable insights and remediation steps.
4. Compliance and Legal Considerations
- Regulatory Compliance: Verify that their services comply with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS).
- Confidentiality: Ensure they have strong confidentiality agreements and data protection measures in place.
5. Communication and Support
- Clear Communication: Evaluate their ability to communicate findings and recommendations effectively.
- Support: Check if they offer ongoing support and re-testing to verify remediation of vulnerabilities.
6. Cost and Value
- Cost Structure: Understand their pricing model and ensure it fits within your budget.
- Value for Money: Assess the value provided for the cost, considering the quality of their services, expertise, and support.
7. Reputation and Reviews
- Reputation: Research their reputation in the industry through reviews, testimonials, and industry forums.
- Accolades and Awards: Check if they have received any industry awards or recognitions.
8. Trial Engagement
- Pilot Project: If possible, start with a smaller pilot project to evaluate their capabilities and work style before committing to a larger engagement.
Peace of Mind with Rootshell’s External Penetration Testing Services
External penetration testing is an investment that your business must make to protect against ever-evolving cyber threats. It removes any guesswork from your defense strategy, so your cybersecurity is as airtight as it can be.
With Rootshell’s White Label penetration testing platform, you get the assurance that your business’s security is in the right hands. We have a strong team of cybersecurity experts who use the power of AI to give you better results.
Our penetration testing services encompass both internal and external pentesting to give you the complete picture of your defense landscape.
Would you like to know more about our penetration testing as a service (PTaaS)?
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