What Is Vulnerability Testing, and Is It Necessary?
Vulnerability testing, also known as penetration testing, is an integral part of any serious security plan. It’s a real-world test of an organization’s network security measures, and can be vital to reveal an existing system’s weaknesses.
There are various kinds of vulnerability tests. A test might involve scanning an organization’s public-facing servers to find well-known ways for outside hackers to gain access to a corporate intranet. They can also involve attempts to steal employee credentials using social engineering methods, and they can be used to test the physical security of a facility.
Let’s look at what vulnerability testing is and how it’s conducted, and then we’ll discuss why it’s so important for maintaining an organization’s security.
What Is Vulnerability Testing?
A vulnerability test, often called a penetration test, or pen test, is a concerted effort to hack into an organization’s network and gain unauthorized access using the same methods employed by real threat actors. Typically, a vulnerability test is conducted by an outside security contractor who has white hat hackers on its staff.
Vulnerability testing generally starts with simple techniques for breaking into a private network, such as scanning the system for vulnerabilities, and it may progress to more involved strategies based on specific observations about the organization, using methods including trespassing and social engineering. While these methods are illegal, the testers are given letters of authorization by the organization, especially if they are testing the organization’s physical security.
There are many ways to break into a network without stealing credentials, so vulnerability testing generally starts there, unless the organization has other specific requirements. The methods testers will use vary, from operating system and server software exploits, to SQL injection attacks. A well-maintained system will deny hackers entry through these methods by keeping their public-facing software updated and ensuring that enterprise firewalls are in place. However, there’s always the chance that a zero-day exploit that hasn’t been patched yet exists.
Because system security is generally well-implemented, hackers today often rely on social engineering attacks to gain remote access to internal networks. Obtaining credentials is usually faster than breaking into a well defended network. In fact, 91% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email campaign. There’s always a chance that an employee will click a link in a phishing email. Threat actors can sometimes persuade employees to divulge their credentials over the phone, and they may also bribe disaffected employees. Vulnerability testers will employ these same methods in order to gain access to their client’s systems.
Comprehensive vulnerability testing usually also includes physical security checks. The security professionals hired by the organization will attempt to find their way into the facility, using the same methods that are used in industrial or international espionage. These methods include using social media and other sources to gather information about employees to use for social engineering, stealing security badges, and attempting to enter a facility either by trespassing or impersonating an employee or contractor.
If they do succeed in gaining access, they’ll also attempt to break into administrative accounts to gain the level of access required to enact a data breach. Once the testing is complete, they’ll provide a detailed report for the organization’s security team to review, often with recommendations for improving security as needed.
The High Cost of Network Breaches
Organizations that store sensitive information are facing a risk of cyberattack that has only grown in recent years. Financial transaction data, personal information, and employee records are all at risk. According to a study by IBM and Ponemon Institute, the average cost of these breaches has reached nearly $4 million USD, and those figures are higher for regulated industries like healthcare and financial services.
A recent example of a very costly data breach is the one that occurred at Desjardins Group. They are the largest federation of credit unions in North America, and they discovered that an employee had leaked the personal information of nearly 3 million customers, including addresses, social insurance numbers, and birth dates. The cost to the organization has snowballed to $70 million CAD, as a class action lawsuit is ongoing demanding $300 CAD per customer in punitive damages.
Other high-profile attacks at Norsk Hydro, British Airways, and Marriott are also object lessons in the importance of proactive security measures. Organizations from a variety of industries can be crippled by ransomware attacks that shut down their IT systems. Cyber-criminals also continue to successfully steal customer transaction data from a variety of organizations, including hospitality chains and even airlines. These high-profile attacks have cost these companies between $75 and $100 million USD for financial settlements and regulatory fines.
Is Vulnerability Testing Necessary?
There have been many advances in automating vulnerability scanning software, and so some vulnerability testing that used to be performed manually is no longer needed. This leads some people to believe that manual vulnerability testing isn’t necessary at all, but this only applies to software and network vulnerabilities. The reality is that vulnerability testing will always be a best practice in cybersecurity, because it tests the entire range of possible attack vectors, including social engineering and physical security, neither of which can be thoroughly tested by software solutions.
Human vulnerability testers can employ the same creativity as real world threat actors. They are often able to find ways around an organization’s network security by replicating the methods that continue to succeed, as well as develop new strategies as security measures evolve. Human testers maintain their knowledge about the latest exploits and malware that are circulating in the hacker community.
The strength of vulnerability testing is that it provides a thorough audit of the effectiveness of a company’s entire security policy. This audit allows the organization to maintain their vigilance by revealing unknown weaknesses that could lead to damaging and potentially very expensive cyberattacks.
Periodic vulnerability testing gives organizations an opportunity to remove holes that exist but have yet to be discovered by malicious hackers. As such, it should be considered an essential part of any business’s security plan.
How Outsource IT can Help
Outsource IT has security professionals who can perform full-spectrum or limited vulnerability testing for organizations of any size. They have the practical experience and technical knowledge needed to ensure that an organization’s network is secure, and they’ll document all the vulnerabilities they discover if it isn’t. Whether vulnerability testing needs to focus on only certain aspects of a company’s network security or cover the full gamut of possible attack vectors, Outsource IT can arrange for a vulnerability test that meets any organization’s needs.
For more information, feel free to contact an account manager today about any security-related service that Outsource IT provides.
