Penetration Testing is a security assessment conducted to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities. In this article, we will explain all the details related to penetration testing.
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing, also known as pentesting, is a comprehensive security assessment conducted to test an information system, network, or application for security vulnerabilities. This test is performed to determine how resilient information systems are against cyber attacks and to identify potential weaknesses. Known as cybersecurity testing, penetration tests are carried out through simulations of both internal and external attacks.
Why is Penetration Testing Necessary?
Penetration tests provide businesses with the opportunity to identify and rectify cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Additionally, it is a requirement for compliance in many sectors. The reasons for the necessity of penetration testing are as follows:
Regulatory Obligations
Companies must comply with security standards set by regulatory bodies such as BDDK, EPDK, SPK, and ISO 27001. These regulations are established to ensure the security of information and protect customer data.
Proactive Approach to Mitigating Attacks
Penetration testing simulates potential cyber attacks, revealing your business’s weak points. This allows you to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do and take necessary precautions.
How Does Penetration Testing Protect Against Cyber Attacks?
Penetration tests simulate potential attacks to identify vulnerabilities within your company’s network, systems, or applications. When the vulnerabilities detected as a result of these tests are corrected, your business becomes more resilient against cyber threats.
How Does the Penetration Testing Process Work?
The penetration testing process involves several stages. To summarize these stages, we can outline the following steps:
Information Gathering and Preparation Phase
The first step in the penetration testing process is to gather information about the target system. At this stage, the structure of the target network, the technologies used, and potential security vulnerabilities in the system are identified.
Vulnerability Detection and Identification of System Flaws
Vulnerabilities in systems are scanned using various automated and manual methods. As a result of these scans, security flaws and vulnerabilities within the system are identified.
Conducting Attacks Using Exploits
In this phase, attack simulations are conducted against the identified security vulnerabilities. Exploit tools are used to test how attackers might exploit these vulnerabilities.
Reporting and Providing Security Recommendations
In the final phase, the results of the tests are reported, and suggestions for improving your company’s cybersecurity are provided. These reports are prepared in accordance with relevant regulations and help the company enhance its security strategy.
Penetration Testing Certifications
The importance of certifications such as TSE 13638, OSCP, CISSP, CEH, and ISO 27001 is significant, and these certifications are required for penetration testing.
Penetration tests should only be conducted by authorized and certified experts. The TSE 13638 standard is one of the most important references for these tests in Turkey. Additionally, our experts, who hold international certifications such as OSCP, CISSP, and CEH, will elevate your company’s cybersecurity to the highest level.
For more details about penetration testing certifications, you can refer to our blog post, “What are Penetration Testing Certifications?“
Advantages of SPK, BDDK, and EPDK Compliant Reporting
Regulatory bodies such as BDDK, EPDK, and SPK require penetration tests. By working with us, you can obtain reports compliant with these regulations and strengthen your cybersecurity.