Penetration Testing is the process of detecting and evaluating attacks on the system, network or equipment. Penetration testing, which is seen as an evaluation method in determining system and network security in order to prove the vulnerability of the system in a real attack, also helps to reduce operating costs.
Penetration Test methodologies consist of generally accepted standards developed by relevant organizations to ensure that security audit tests provide healthy and repeatable results.
Penetration tests are part of various security audits such as BRSA, EPDK, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001 compliance, Trust Stamp, KVKK, depending on the country It is a test that must be performed periodically and compulsorily after system changes. Penetration testing is a check-up of the information system. It is recommended to perform a penetration test once a year to see the weaknesses of the company.
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What are the Stages of Penetration Testing?
When it comes to system security, penetration testing is used to improve the firewall. Virus programs pose a great risk to businesses. The fact that data security is at risk and possible damages negatively affect the budget are threats for companies. Penetration testing is one of the most important ways to secure your systems and reduce your operating costs. The stages of penetration testing can be listed as follows.
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Providing Information
Information gathering is the stage where all possible information about the target is gathered to make an in-depth security assessment. Information about the target organization or system can be obtained using technical and non-technical methods via the Internet. The aim of this first phase is to discover every attack path and to obtain a comprehensive view of the target and its applications.
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Network Imaging
Once the first part is completed, all possible information about the target should be obtained. A more technical approach is used to analyze the target network and resources. When a network image is taken, an active information gathering is performed. The main purpose of this stage is to produce a possible network topology of the target system and to detail the network structure.
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Classification
In the step before the classification phase, port scanning operations are performed on systems that are determined to be live. Important information such as which services are used by the ports found to be open, which manufacturer’s services these services belong to, and version details are learned. It is necessary to make sure that this information is correct through manual tests. After making sure that the information is correct, vulnerability databases are scanned in the light of this information.
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Vulnerability Detection
After collecting information about the target system and acquiring a network image, a vulnerability analysis is performed by evaluating the information obtained. The purpose of vulnerability assessment is to technically assess the existence of vulnerabilities using the information previously obtained.
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Provision of Rights
Various scenarios are tried on the target system and its security by trying to exploit the vulnerabilities revealed after the vulnerability is detected. Access is attempted by bypassing the security measures on the system. Connection is tried to be obtained as much as possible. Tests are performed on the target system using appropriate tools to exploit the identified vulnerabilities.
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What is the Role of Penetration Testing in Business Costs?
Penetration testing is one of the most effective methods when businesses provide critical services. Precautionary policies recommended by international standards (KVKK, GDPR, BRSA, TSE, PCI DSS, ISO 27001) are examined and implemented. A process approach is used for information security. In such a case, penetration testing has the significant advantage of obtaining valuable and specialized information that cannot be obtained from standard sources. The test, which protects businesses against possible cyber attacks, harmful applications such as virus programs, also reduces costs.
Hackers can jeopardize the company’s data security. In such cases, businesses have a lot of difficulty in ensuring production continuity. This leads to an increase in operating costs. With a penetration test to be performed once a year, company costs can be reduced as much as possible. Tests provide the opportunity to identify other boundaries of information security development, to make a quality assessment of the protective measures implemented and to reveal specific gaps. Therefore, the company achieves production continuity. The information security risk assessment, which should be carried out in accordance with international practices, will enable the value of the test results to be determined, thus justifying the costs. It is recommended that penetration testing be performed at a minimum interval of one year, depending on the size of the company and security risk factors.
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PlusClouds Penetration Testing Services
At PlusClouds, we help businesses strengthen their cybersecurity strategy by offering our customers a comprehensive penetration testing service. Our specialized security team is made up of experienced cybersecurity experts and tests our clients’ systems against attacks using the latest techniques and methods. In our penetration testing process, we work rigorously to identify our clients’ security vulnerabilities, identify potential risks and recommend appropriate corrective measures. Our goal is to provide our customers with the highest level of security and offer solutions to protect their businesses against cyber threats.
If you want to have a penetration test, you can start by filling out the Penetration Test Request Form on our website.
