Penetration Testing Services

Types of pen test vary in focus, depth and duration. They can include internal/external infrastructure penetration testing, which assesses on-premise and cloud network infrastructure, wireless penetration testing, which targets an organisation’s WLAN, as well as wireless protocols. Other types of tests include web application testing, which assesses websites and custom applications delivered over the web, mobile application testing which tests mobile applications on operating systems, including Android and iOS to identify authentication, authorisation, data leakage and session handling issues, and build and configuration reviews which review network builds and configurations.

Penetration testing is an important part of maintaining cyber security and addressing gaps in your organisation’s defenses. Penetration testing should be a critical element of all organisations’ security programmes to help them keep up with the fast-evolving threat landscape. With threats constantly evolving, it’s recommended that every organisation conducts a penetration test at least once a year, but more frequently when making significant changes to an application or infrastructure, launching new products and services, undergoing a business merger or acquisition or preparing for compliance with security standards.

High quality penetration testing services apply a systematic methodology to ensure that all the relevant aspects are covered. In the case of a blackbox external network pentest, once the engagement has been scoped, the pen tester will conduct extensive reconnaissance, scanning and asset mapping in order to identify vulnerabilities for exploitation. Once access to the network has been established, the pen tester will then attempt to move laterally across the network to obtain the higher-level privileges required to compromise additional assets and achieve the objective of the pentesting engagement. The final stage is the provision of a detailed report.

The duration of a penetration test will depend on the scope of the test and the nature of the organisation. Factors affecting penetration testing duration include network size, whether the test is internal or external facing, whether it involves any physical penetration testing and whether network information and user credentials are shared prior to the penetration testing engagement. Your chosen vendor should discuss your options with you and agree what works best for your organisation prior to starting the penetration testing.

All organisations are advised to conduct a penetration test at least once a year, as well as after any significant upgrades or modifications to the company network. Given the rapid rate at which new exploits are discovered, quarterly tests are highly beneficial. Regular penetration tests are often required for compliance with regulations such as PCI DSS.

To help facilitate the remediation process, pen testing should be assessed to ensure that it delivers actionable guidance to drive tangible security improvements. After each engagement, the ethical hacker assigned to the test should produce a custom written report, detailing and assessing the risks of any weaknesses identified, and outlining recommended remedial actions. A provider may also offer a comprehensive telephone debrief following submission of the report.

Penetration testing costs vary widely, so it’s essential to ensure that the pen testing you select enables you to achieve the best security outcomes from your budget. Every organisation has its own testing requirements and penetration testing pricing varies according to the type of test performed, as well as its overall objectives and duration. Penetration testing costs ultimately depend on the issues and requirements identified during the initial scoping phase.

Penetration testing as a service utilises the tools, techniques and procedures used by genuine criminal hackers. At Kroll, our five-phase approach incorporates two powerful sources of insight: the front-line experience of our global team of leading cyber investigators and the real-time threats gained from sophisticated technology, including our patent-protected dark web tools. For organisations whose cyber maturity is advanced, we can also provide red teaming exercises (on a onetime or periodic basis) that focus on specific objectives and scenarios provided by your team.

As penetration testing involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities, a clearly defined scope is needed to ensure that testing won’t impact business operations and fall foul of the law. A good pen testing provider should work closely with you to minimise any potential disruption to your business during the testing process. They should also agree in advance how to maintain the security of your systems and assets throughout the process.