Performing a penetration test is the only way to know how effective your security measures in place are at defending against an attacker.

Cybersecurity risks are increasing with unparalleled speed, frequency, and sophistication. As organizations adopt more technology to streamline operations and achieve their goals, the risk of being a victim of a cyber attack grows exponentially.

To overcome these threats, organizations must perform continuous risk management and strive to improve their cybersecurity posture. Thirty years of history have shown that cyber risk is difficult to understand, problematic to hedge, and only likely to increase, and characterized by a continually changing threat environment.

This real-world scenario simulates actions a threat actor would take to compromise your systems for malicious purposes.

Vulnerability scanning identifies known vulnerabilities, lack of security controls, and common misconfigurations within systems on a network.

Penetration testing simulates an attack to exploit weaknesses to prove the effectiveness of your network’s security.

The main difference is that vulnerability scanning is used for both defensive and offensive cybersecurity strategies while penetration testing is offensive in nature.

Many providers will sell their services as a penetration test, but attempt to pass off a vulnerability scan as one. This is also known as a "smoke test."

With PurpleSec, you get a dedicated point of contact and a certified assessor. This approach provides a more thorough assessment of your security defenses.

The different types of penetration tests include:

• Network: Tests the security of network infrastructure components like servers, workstations, printers, firewalls, and routers. Testers might use port scanning, vulnerability scanning, and attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities in network protocols or services.
• Web Application: Examines vulnerabilities in web-based applications and their components. This could involve attempting SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), or testing for insecure direct object references.
• Client-Side: Focuses on identifying weaknesses in client-side applications like email clients, web browsers, and office suites. Testers might craft malicious files or web pages to exploit vulnerabilities in these applications.
• Wireless: Assesses the security of wireless networks and connected devices. Testing could include attempting to crack WiFi passwords, setting up rogue access points, or intercepting wireless traffic.
• Social Engineering: Simulates attempts to manipulate or trick users into revealing sensitive information. This might involve sending phishing emails, making vishing (voice phishing) calls, or attempting to gain physical access through impersonation.
• Physical: Tests the effectiveness of physical security measures to protect infrastructure, buildings, and systems. Testers might attempt to bypass locks, tailgate employees, or access restricted areas without proper authorization.
• Firewall: Specifically examines firewall configurations and attempts to bypass them. This could involve probing for misconfigured rules, attempting to exploit known vulnerabilities in firewall software, or finding ways to tunnel traffic through allowed ports.

There are several approaches to penetration testing, each with its own advantages and use cases. The choice between white box, black box, or gray box testing depends on your organization's specific security needs and goals.

White Box Penetration Testing

White box penetration testing, also known as clear box or transparent box testing, provides the tester with full access and complete knowledge of the target system. This includes source code, credentials, documentation, and multiple account roles.

White box testing is ideal when you want to:

• Evaluate your application security in-depth.
• Test from a developer's perspective.
• Uncover vulnerabilities in the logic flow of an application.
• Assess critical systems like banking applications.
• Perform thorough testing at an early stage of development.

Black Box Penetration Testing

Black box penetration testing simulates a real-world attack scenario where the tester has no prior knowledge of the system. The assessor is given only the target URL and mimics the behavior of an external attacker.

Black box testing is suitable when you want to:

• Evaluate your security posture from an outsider's perspective.
• Test your application, infrastructure, or network in a scenario closest to a real-life attack.
• Assess smaller scopes or specific components.
• Conduct a cost-effective security assessment.

Gray Box Penetration Testing

Gray box penetration testing falls between white box and black box approaches. The tester has partial knowledge of the system, such as basic architectural information or limited access credentials.

Gray box testing is appropriate when you want to:

• Balance the depth of white box testing with the real