Identify Network vulnerabilities and remove them through Predictive Intel network pentest using advanced techniques to enhance your network defenses.
What is Network Penetration Testing?
Network penetration testing, commonly known as pen testing, refers to a simulated cyberattack against a network. This test evaluates how sound or vulnerable the defenses of a network are by identifying the areas of vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and other possible gaps awaiting exploitation by malicious hackers. Network penetration testing, therefore, seeks to give businesses ideas about their security posture; thus, corrections can be made in due course of time before actual threats pose any attacks.
There are two types of network penetration testing: external and internal. External penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities that exist in the network components which are exposed to the internet. Examples include web servers, VPNs, and other types of servers. On the other hand, internal penetration testing identifies those types of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by a person with authorized access, such as employees or contractors to the business. Performing an extensive network penetration testing enables the organizations to enhance the security levels while protecting the sensitive data and upholding regulatory standards.
Network Penetration Testing
Explore Predictive Intel’s Network Penetration Testing services to expose vulnerabilities and strengthen your security posture. Understand how our approach can help protect your infrastructure. Have a question about our services? Just complete the contact form, and one of our informed representatives will contact you immediately to answer your question.
Choosing wrong Pentest partner could cost you losing millions besides irreparable damage to reputation of your organization.
Most Pentest Providers:
- Does not provide a good enough penetration test and, as such, often misses problems.
- Does not provide enough direction on how vulnerabilities need to be corrected.
- Lack experts with experience in security.
- Do not help plan and execute remediation.
- Do not provide a collaborative dashboard of vulnerable information.
- Makes it tough to test new versions of devices.
Unpatched Software and Firmware
Poor Patch Management primarily leaves your systems open to exploit and breaches. We provide a full-scale patch management assessment for ensuring the security and resilience of your network against threats..
Weak or Default Credentials
Unauthorized people can get access to critical systems and data that are critical due to weak or default credentials. We scan all vulnerabilities so that your network is secured with robust security.
Lack of Encryption
Lack of encryption leaves your data vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access. Our services include comprehensive scanning of each encryption protocol in our solutions while further considering the strength of your information on every channel.
Misconfigured Firewalls and Access Controls
Misconfigured firewalls and access controls can leave your network vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches. Our services include comprehensive assessments to ensure your firewalls and access controls are properly set up to protect your critical assets.
Open Ports and
Services
Wrongly opened ports and services can open up avenues for unauthorized access and potential malicious attacks. Our services include comprehensive scanning of both open ports and running services in your network.
Inadequate Network Segmentation
Poor network segmentation can lead to unauthorized access and lateral movement within your network, heightening the risk of a security breach. Our services include comprehensive network segmentation assessments and tailored solutions to enhance your network's security posture and minimize potential threats.
Common Vulnerabilities
Network Penetration Testing Vulnerabilities
Unpatched Windows Machines
Unpatched Windows machines can often pose a significant risk to a network’s security. Machines not running the latest updates remain vulnerable to exploits that can lead to data breaches or full system compromises.
Insecure Network Segregation
Inadequate network segregation can allow attackers to move laterally across your network, often accessing sensitive information and systems.
Unencrypted Communications
Communications which are not encrypted can be easily intercepted by attackers, leading to the exposure of clear-text login credentials or business information.
Legacy Network Protocols (Netbios, LLMNR, NBT-NS)
Using outdated network protocols, such as NetBIOS, LLMNR, and NBT-NS, can enable attackers to poison requests on your network and capture password hashes. Modernising network protocols and disabling unnecessary protocols can greatly reduce the attack surface.
Default Credentials
Using default credentials for network devices and applications is a common but critical security issue. Attackers often conduct password spraying to identify and exploit systems that have default credentials.
Insecure Firewalls
Improperly configured firewalls can fail to protect vital network resources from external and internal threats. Attackers can exploit a poorly configured firewall to gain access to your network.
Reach out to a team member today to assess whether your network has any common vulnerabilities. Schedule a Network Penetration Test now.
What does Network Penetration Testing include?
Weak or Default Credentials
Unpatched
Software
Misconfigured Firewalls and Security Controls
Vulnerable external facing network services
Insecure Remote Access Protocols
Insufficient network segmentation controls
Weak & Outdated Encryption Standards
Vulnerable to Layer 3 and 4 attacks
Inadequate Patch Management Processes
Insecure Wireless Configurations
Weak Password
Policies
Improper Error
Handling
What are the benefits of a network penetration test?
- Identify Vulnerabilities: Detect weaknesses before cybercriminals have the chance to exploit them.
- Regulatory compliance: Assist in fulfilling cybersecurity standards and regulations.
- Risk Assessment: Delivers an accurate assessment of network’ security status
- Cost Saving: Helps avoid financial repercussions of data breaches.
- Peace of Mind: Provides assurance that your network has been thoroughly tested and is secure.
Network Security Testing Methodology
In the first phase, we define the test’s objectives, scope, and boundaries. We also identify the target network environments, resources, and services to set clear goals for the testing process.
Scoping & Planning
In this initial phase, we define the scope and objectives of the penetration testing project. We identify the API endpoints to be tested, understand the business logic and functionalities of the API, and set clear goals and expectations. Proper scoping ensures that we focus our testing efforts and align them with the organisation’s security requirements.
Reconnaissance and Intelligence Gathering
This phase is all about thoroughness. We collect a wealth of data, including IP ranges, domain names, and publicly available information, to establish potential entry points and areas of interest. By conducting both passive and active reconnaissance, we gather maximum intelligence on the target environment, ensuring a comprehensive understanding.
Scanning and Vulnerability Analysis
We perform automated and manual scans to detect vulnerabilities in network resources. We assess the security of virtual machines, storage services, databases, and network components. This phase aims to identify outdated software, unpatched vulnerabilities, and insecure APIs that could pose security risks.
Threat Modelling Exercise
This phase is proactive in nature. We analyse intelligence to model potential threats, determining how attackers could exploit identified vulnerabilities and assessing the possible impact on network infrastructure. This proactive approach helps us prioritise vulnerabilities based on their risk level and potential damage, ensuring a strategic remediation process.
Exploitation and Post-Exploitation
We exploit identified vulnerabilities to gain access to cloud resources. We use privilege escalation techniques to determine achievable access levels. We evaluate the potential impact of successful exploitation, gather evidence to support our findings and develop remediation recommendations.
Reporting and Retesting
We document all findings, including vulnerabilities, exploitation results, and recommended remediation steps. We provide a comprehensive report with an executive summary and detailed technical findings. We conduct retests (Which are free) to ensure that the applied corrections and enhancements are effective and that no vulnerabilities remain exploitable.