Penetration Test Steps: 7 Main Phases

Cybersecurity has never been more important in today's digitally driven world. Global cybercrime causes significant damage to businesses, making it imperative for organizations to adopt a proactive approach to protecting their assets.

One of the most critical cyber security practices is a pen test, a simulated attack against a mobile application, network, or organization to exploit existing deficiencies. Penetration testing enables organizations to take proactive measures to strengthen their security posture and reduce the risk of successful cyberattacks.

In fact, companies that perform regular penetration testing are less likely to experience a data breach compared to those that don't. In this article-guide, we will discuss the stages in an in-depth penetration test so that you can be knowledgeable and help your company maintain a very strong safety posture against these ever-evolving cyber threats.

7 Key Steps of the Penetration Testing Procedure

The accompanying diagram depicts the essential stages of the penetration testing process — a systematic approach to identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in an organization's systems, ensuring security. Each penetration testing stage holds great importance for a comprehensive evaluation of the security posture.

Step 1: Information Gathering

Gathering as much info as possible concerning the target system or network. This penetration test aspect helps in discovering some of the vulnerabilities and points of entry.

1. Define the scope and approach: Start with identifying systems, mobile applications, or networks to be tested. Learning about the scope of penetration testing and gaining necessary permissions.
2. Collect Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Utilizing equipment to capture data from open sources. Website and social media exploration, among other internet sources about the target systems. 
3. Identify network infrastructure: Network topology mapping: IP Address, Subnet, Devices. Utilizing implements like `nslookup`, `whois`, and `traceroute` for network info gathering is crucial for assessing safety. 
4. Gather technical details: Identifying deployed technologies: web servers, databases, frameworks. Looking for version numbers and settings that may reveal safety pitfalls during this penetration test.
5. Document findings: Recording all collected data in minute detail. Organizing systems information to be easily referenced in later cycles of penetration testing.

Such an initiation of penetration testing will set up nicely for later phases in the penetration process and ensure a high probability of finding an integral flaw.

Step 2: Reconnaissance

Gathering detailed information about the target in question using both passive and active techniques. This penetration testing phase helps build a pretty thorough profile of the target environment.

1. Passive reconnaissance: Knowledge gathering without any real contact or interference with the target. It can be learned from search engines, social networking sites, and public records.
2. Active reconnaissance: The attacker directly interfaces with the target to get the information, which may raise an alarm very easily. Perform network analyzing with the aim of enumerating live hosts and open ports. Tools used in this area include Nmap.
3. DNS enumeration: Utilizing tools that are able to furnish the domain with comprehensive information like subdomains and records. It is vital for understanding security proneness.
4. Network mapping: Graphic network mapping to appreciate network topology and interconnections.
5. Identify third-party services: Enumerating any third-party services or cloud providers that the target may be using and look for associated unauthorized access risks.
6. Document findings: Recording all collected information in detail for later pentesting phases.

This penetration testing step is of great consequence in the development of a valued profile on the target, as it establishes an efficacious flaw testing during the penetration testing. Reconnaissance is an essential component of comprehensive penetration testing. 

Step 3: Discovery and Scanning 

Identifying alive hosts, services, and potential vulnerabilities of the target environment.

• Discovery: Network enumeration using testing tools like Nmap to detect active devices and open ports.
• Service enumeration: Gathering detailed testing information of services running on the detected open ports for version and identify configuration.
• Static analysis: Perform an exploration of the mobile application code and configuration for vulnerabilities without execution by using test tools like SonarQube.
• Dynamic exploration: In an operational environment, the examination will be done using such tools as Burp Suite to find runtime vulnerabilities.
• Automated vulnerability detection: Performing the automated scan for known vulnerabilities via Nessus scanner or OpenVAS and report them.

This penetration testing phase is crucial for finding some of the safety weaknesses that may be utilized during subsequent procedures of pen testing.

Step 4: Vulnerability Assessment

The sequence of penetration testing commences with the aggregation of all pertinent info into a singular register of known vulnerabilities. The subsequent action is the vulnerability analysis, which weighs each flaw against the following factors:

• Systems: Which systems are susceptible to external and internal influence during penetration testing?
• Data: It is essential to identify which client info is exposed, as this can significantly impact safety.
• Attack complexity: The degree of complexity that potential attacks attempts may exhibit.
• Impact assessment: For each flaw, determine the potential damage for the company that could result from its exploitation.

Subsequently, the calculated risk scores from the penetration testing are employed in the prioritization of the respective remediation of the vulnerabilities. Moreover, the effectiveness of the vulnerability assessment can be improved by incorporating feedback from previous vulnerability assessments. 

Subsequently, the output of this pen test phase is summarized in penetration testing reports and presented to the relevant stakeholders, who may then make informed decisions regarding the most appropriate course of action.

Step 5: Exploitation

The scope of this pen test phase is exploitation of the identified vulnerabilities to determine what kind of impact could be caused to the target.

1. Test preparation: Creating a controlled environment and choosing high-priority vulnerabilities to exploit.
2. Exploitation techniques: Tester employs automated software exploitation with penetration testing tools such as Metasploit and manual exploitation tools that verify the unauthorized access obtained during this penetration testing phase.
3. Data exfiltration and impact testing: If relevant, tester also simulates data theft and document the potential impact of successful exploits on the organization.
4. Post test documentation: Tester documents all findings and works with stakeholders to outline remediation strategies and enhancements.

This pen test phase is needed for demonstrating the practical implications of vulnerabilities and guiding remediation efforts effectively. Browsers and various devices, including IoT  technologies, face significant barriers to safety, prompting the need for comprehensive solutions that integrate effective program or programs to protect data from attackers on the internet.

Step 6: Final Penetration Testing Analysis and Review

The objective of this phase, also very important for enhancing safety posture, is to analyze results from a penetration test, exploration findings, and prepare for reporting and remediation.

1. Consolidate findings: Gathering all data from the previous pen test phases, including exploitation results, identified weaknesses, and endangerment assessments.
2. Analyze penetration test results: Evaluating each exploited vulnerability's impact and its relation to the overall security posture of the organization. Identify patterns or common weaknesses, including those related to wireless networks, that could be indicative of systemic issues.
3. Report preparation: Preparing an in-depth report after testing on findings, penetration testing methodologies applied, and implications of each vulnerability. The executive summary for stakeholders should cover critical issues and recommended mitigations derived from the penetration testing results.
4. Testing review and feedback: Organizing a review session with the penetration testing team and stakeholders involved to present findings and obtain feedback. Ensuring clarity and precision of the report. Address all questions or concerns raised during exploration.

This phase ensures that the penetration test results are well integrated and interpreted to make remediation efforts actionable.

Step 7: Utilize the Penetration Testing Results

The final penetration test results are being used to improve system security mechanisms and policy.

1. Applying recommendations: Using the remediation techniques included in the final penetration testing report, eliminate the discovered system weaknesses.
2. Develop/improve security policies: Update safety policies in the light of insight gained from the penetration test. It is essential to guarantee that the policies are aligned with the most effective practices and the insights gained from the penetration testing.
3. Training and awareness: Provide training sessions on personnel security weaknesses and best practices. Use penetration testing findings to develop material that educates employees on how to recognize and mitigate system safety risks.
4. Continuous monitoring and improvement: Regularly institute monitoring that may identify newly discovered system vulnerabilities and the efficiency of changes put in place. Schedule periodic penetration testing or flaw testing to maintain the company's security resistance against newly discovered threats.

This is a crucial stage of the penetration testing process that assures meaningful improvement in the organization's overall security strategy based on the outcome of the penetration test.

Conclusion

Penetration testing is a structured and systematic process that plays a vital role in enhancing an organization’s cybersecurity posture. By adhering to the pentest methodology steps  — from information gathering and reconnaissance to final analysis and result utilization — businesses can proactively identify vulnerabilities, assess their potential impact, and implement effective remediation strategies.

At Datami, we specialize in delivering comprehensive penetration testing services tailored to meet your organization’s unique security needs. Our team of experts leverages cutting-edge tools and methodologies to identify and address vulnerabilities, helping you build a robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

Don't leave your organization’s security to chance. Contact Datami today and let us help you secure your digital assets, reduce risks, and ensure peace of mind in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.