What are Network Security Penetration Testing Types & Tools?

These days, when everybody tries to improve their hacking skills. It is a need for time to improve the security of your networks to prevent the possible attacks of hackers.

For this, they hire different professionals to use their hacking skills. These all people are referred to as ethical hackers.

They use different strategies to check the level of security. The most important is network security penetration testing.

It monitors any possible flaws in network security. If this term is new to you, then don’t worry.

We are here to provide you with an extensive explanation of what network penetration testing is, its types, and its tools.

We hope you will learn interesting things from our blog post.

What is Network Security Penetration Testing?

The importance of cyber security in the current era can’t be denied.

Network penetration testing is a cyber security service to detect any possible flaws in the network. It is also known as pen testing or ethical hacking.

In this type of testing, a team of professionals attacks the resources to check any security issue in the network.

Organizations do it to see if hackers can access their resources. 

Ethical hackers launch an attack without any malicious intent to protect the system from any future flaws.

How Does Network Penetration Work? 

There are various phases to launch any attack for penetration testing.

The most common is the planning phase. It reviews documentation, network specification, and the cases of network usage. 

How Does Network Penetration Testing Detect Security Threats?

When we apply a network penetration test on any organization’s IT infrastructure, we detect the possible threads of hacker attacks.

Network penetration testing detects any threat in the following ways:

1. Building a scope for the test 
2. Scanning the organizational network
3. Gain network access
4. Avoid detection and maintain network access
5. Analysis of network

How Can Penetration Testing Improve Network Security? 

If you are the CEO, no doubt your main focus is to avoid your system from illegal authority.

You encourage the use of penetration testing to discover any weaknesses in your network and prevent cybersecurity threats.

So, you can already fix all the issues in your network. Penetration testing improves network security in the following ways: 

1. Real-World Experience:

When hackers apply penetration tests to check any flaws, it is a real-world thing to see how hackers can attack your resources.

It will better help you take control of all these holes that create problems in the future.

2. Risk Prioritization:

You check your possible system threats before a hackers attack. In this way, you prioritize risk. In this way, you can save your system from any sudden attack.

Also, Check Out How to Prevent Man in the Middle Attack?

3. Train Developer:

When trained professionals apply penetration tests on network systems, they might make mistakes.

The testing process goes on, and they take control over their flaws. In this way, they better provide their services to businesses.

4. Assume Attack Vector Feasibility:

When you come across the whole stages of hacking any resources, you can see attacker feasibility. You can complain about security threats without further damage.

5. Reveal Vulnerability:

The purpose of penetration testing is to explore vulnerability. This testing reveals the vulnerability of the network.

Types of Penetration Testing in Network security 

We hope you will better understand the concept of penetration testing. Maybe, you will be confused about the types of penetration testing and which type is best to save from cyber attacks.

Here are six main types of the testing process:

1) External Network Penetration Testing: 

In this type of penetration testing, the hacker tries to access the network using public information, to access the data shared between the server and end-user.

For example, the company’s emails, cloud-based network, and websites.

2) Internal Network Penetration Testing: 

In this type, hackers check to see if any employee can hack with little access. This type of test is done to avoid possible hacking from the ill-intended employee.

3) Social Engineering Testing: 

Hackers send a legitimate-looking email to the end-user to get personal credentials and credit card information. If this error is present in your network, you can do double verification to avoid any issues in the future.

For example, Phishing Emails are the most common threads in social engineering testing.

Recommended Read What to do if You Click on a Phishing Link?

4) Physical Penetration Testing: 

A hacker physically accesses the organizational network. He tries to install malware with the help of a portable USB (Ninja Cable) in the organization’s network.

5) Wireless Penetration Testing: 

It is the most common threat that a business faces. Different companies provide you with various applications to get access to the company’s privacy.

It exposes any wireless threats and improves network and data security.

6) Application Penetration Testing:

Most applications are designed to inject trojan and malware into the host network. So, this testing will detect any holes in software and applications. 

Also, Read Malware vs Spyware: Know the Differences

Network Penetration Testing Example

• Sending of phishing emails
• Use unencrypted password
• Send malware with the help of software
• Use public routers to get access to host data
• Guess password 

Network Penetration Testing Methodology 

There are various methodologies used in penetration testing. We will discuss some of them. It is up to you which one attracts you the most.

• OSSTMM (Open Source Security Test Method Manuals)
• OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project)
• NIST (The National Institute Of Standards And Technology)
• PTES (Penetration Testing Methodologies And Standard) 

Network Security Penetration Testing Tools

You can use different types of tools to apply this test to any network. We will discuss some of the best tools that you can use:

1. Powershell-Suite:

It is a compilation of power shell scripts. It extracts information about the handles process, DDLs, and many aspects of the window. It is supported by Windows only.

2. Z-Map:

It is a light weighted network scanner and can scan networks from home to business. It works only on Linux and Mac OS.

3. X-ray:

It uses DNS requests, word lists, and API keys to recognize threats. It is only applicable for Linux and Windows.

Final Words

Network security is the main aim that everyone wants to achieve. As, without proper security, one will lose a large amount of money and data.

Network penetration testing is one of the best ways to secure your system. In this article, we have discussed different types of testing and tools that you can use to apply tests.

Hopefully, we have discussed everything about network security penetration testing and its types. If you still have any confusion, let us know in the comment section. 

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