Penetration Testing in Network Security [2022 Guide]

The relevance of network penetration testing comes from the fact that most of the systems and devices are connected to a network for daily functioning, especially if the device is connected to the internet. In a network penetration testing procedure, the ethical hacking team is able to visualize how these devices connect to any network, how the network works in general, and if there are any flaws in these mechanisms. 

With effective network pentesting, the firm is able to identify the existing flaws in the network security barriers, evaluate the responses to a potential hacking attempt, and map out the overall security posture. As technology and the needs of the customer progresses, hackers adopt the latest methods to utilize security vulnerabilities in the operating system or the network. 

What are the different kinds of network penetration testing techniques?

Security vulnerabilities in one’s network could lead to the loss of sensitive data, violation of compliance standards, and the eventual loss of customer trust. Some of the key vulnerabilities discovered in a typical network pentest include outdated versions of software, misconfigured firewalls, and SQLi and social engineering attack possibilities. Here are a few types of network pentesting techniques that allow the ethical hacking team to explore and identify vulnerabilities within the network. 

• Pre-connection attacks – These are the attacks that happen on the network before access is gained.
• Gaining attacks – These attacks occur after a connection is obtained to the Wifi using the WEP, WPA, or WPA2 network and the hacker’s ability to crack the Wifi keys. 
• Post-connection attacks – After connecting to a network, there are different attack methods that interfere with the connections with various devices, allowing the hacker to gain access to user credentials, URLs, and other personal information. The data sent through these connections can also be modified, be it on Wifi or wired networks. 

Network vulnerability assessment and penetration testing – what’s the difference?

Once you’ve decided on a security assessment for the company network, the next question is about the kind of in-depth testing you’re looking for. If you choose a network vulnerability assessment, you’re electing for a procedure that will identify the vulnerabilities present on the network with the help of certain automated tools. However, the procedure will miss details such as the impact of each of the vulnerabilities discovered, their exploitation, and a combination of automated and manual testing techniques to understand the effect of the security risks. 

Testers who proceed with the vulnerability assessment use a vulnerability scanner to detect existing flaws in the source code and their location, while penetration testing methodologies proceed with the exploitation phase. This helps the ethical hacker to understand the impact of escalation such as unauthorized access, placing malicious code to take over system control, and other threats that pose a security risk. After this, pentesters also use a severity scale to rate the vulnerabilities based on the impact they pose on the overall security of the network and the firm. You’re able to visualize the real-time hacking attempts based on each vulnerability discovered and have a greater probability of finding more security loopholes than a simple vulnerability assessment. Therefore, a combined procedure – the network vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) – is the best way to go about it. 

3 Top Network Penetration Testing Books

Are you an aspiring pentester looking to gain more information about the procedure? Or, are you a firm wanting to conduct the network penetration testing procedure and wish to gain more background information? Whichever category you fall into, it’s always a good strategy to be informed about what you’re stepping into so that you can set your priorities straight and iron out the details with the third-party penetration service provider. 

1. The Art of Network Penetration Testing – Royce Davis (Manning Publications)

This book is targeted towards amateur security professionals and sets forward a framework for analyzing the enterprise network inside out. There are steps detailing an ideal security assessment for identifying important security risks before the hacker can get to them and cause damage. 

2. The Pentester Blueprint – Kim Crawley, Phillip L. Wylie (John Wiley & Sons)

This book focuses on providing a pentesting framework that works for different purposes, network security testing among them. There are training and educational recommendations, including professional certifications that can help jumpstart your career as an ethical hacker. 

3. Network Security Assessment – Chris McNab (O’Reilly Media Inc.)

The only way of evaluating the security of your network is to test it – and that’s the ideology of this book. This practical book provides insights into conducting network penetration testing in a step-by-step manner, a list of common vulnerabilities that you may come across, and the strategies to be adopted for their identification.

This article seeks to provide a general outlook towards network penetration testing, the differences between network vulnerability assessments and penetration testing procedures, and top books you could refer to for more information on this topic. After going through this information, as a tester and a firm, you’ll be able to take an informed approach towards network penetration testing.