What is External Penetration Testing?
External penetration testing is a type of security assessment designed to identify and fix vulnerabilities within publicly accessible network infrastructures by replicating the same techniques used by hackers. External network infrastructures are among the most targeted components. This is why experts recommend to perform external assessments at least once a year or following any major changes to the infrastructure to stay on top of the latest cyber threats. Conducting an external pentest is also required by various standards, such as PCI-DSS, ISO27001, and SOC 2.
Why Conduct an External Pentest?
Conducting an external penetration test provides invaluable insights into the potential security risks your organization may face from external threats. Here is what your organization will gain after conducting a project with our team:
Validate your existing security controls
Understand the potential impact of an attack on external systems
Our external penetration tests will identify and measure vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain access to sensitive data or systems, compromise operations, or damage your reputation. By understanding exactly what could happen during an attack, organizations can prioritize their security efforts and allocate resources effectively.
Identify & fix all existing vulnerabilities
Our external pentests help you identify all existing vulnerabilities in your external infrastructure, including critical vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker to gain access to your network or sensitive data. This will help you prioritize remediation efforts and reduce your overall risk exposure.
Improve your external perimeter security
Comply with regulatory requirements
When Should You Perform an External Penetration Test?
- Before deploying a new system or application to the internet
- After making significant changes to the network or infrastructure
- Prior to a compliance audit or assessment
- Following a security breach or incident
- Annually as part of a proactive security strategy
- Prior to an M&A transaction or other major business event
Common Cybersecurity Risks & Vulnerabilities Identified
Authentication bypass
A vulnerability that allows an attacker to bypass the authentication process and gain unauthorized access to a system or network.
Weak firewall rules
Firewalls act as a barrier between your internal and external networks, and if misconfigured, they can leave a company vulnerable to external attacks. Our external tests identify misconfigurations in firewalls, helping you mitigate risks.
Use of default credentials
When default usernames and passwords are not changed, an attacker can use them to gain access to the system, leading to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Authorization bypass
A security flaw that enables an attacker to bypass access control mechanisms and perform actions they are not authorized to do.
Improper input validation
A weakness that occurs when user input is not properly validated, leading to injection attacks, buffer overflows, and other security issues.
Vulnerable configurations
When network or system configurations are not properly secured, an attacker can exploit them to gain access to sensitive information or compromise the system.
Our Penetration Testing Process
If your organization has not gone through a penetration test before, you may not know what to expect. Even if you have, maybe you are wondering what Vumetric’ stages of penetration testing are. Here is a high-level break down of each step of our proven process:
Project Scoping
Duration: ~ 1-2 days
Activities: We learn about your specific needs and objectives.
Outcome: Business proposal, signed contract.
Kick-off / Planning
Duration: ~ 1 hour
Activities: We review the scope of work, discuss requirements and planning.
Outcome: Scope validation, test planning.
Penetration Testing
Duration: ~ 2-3 weeks
Activities: We execute the test in accordance with the project scope.
Outcome: Detailed penetration test report, presentation.
Remediation Testing
Duration: Up to 1 month
Activities: We test and validate vulnerability fixes.
Outcome: Remediation report, attestation.
The Main Benefits of Testing The Security of Your External Network
Are my systems up to date and properly configured?
Have I successfully secured every service exposed on the internet?
Is my confidential data properly secured or publicly accessible?
Could a ransomware infiltrate my network from the internet?
Does my firewall intercept common hacking attempts?
DID YOU KNOW?
“ Cyberattacks on external networks represent 1/3 of all cyber threats faced by organizations. ”
Need to Conduct External Penetration Testing?
Compliance Standards Requiring External Penetration Testing
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2
- PCI-DSS
- HIPAA
- SOX
- NIST
Frequently Asked Questions
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