A penetration test is a controlled attack on a system and its security measures. It is carried out by a specialised group of testers, who make an attempt at breaking into the system using methods and tools that would normally be used by cybercriminals. The main difference is that in the case of a penetration test, you do not have to worry about any data leaks and malware being installed in your systems. 

Such an attack can be carried out using the black box, white box or grey box model, which are different based on the level of knowledge the pentester has beforehand. In the case of a black box attack, the starting information is limited to the company website address or IP address range. The white box model gives the pentesters full access to all information about the client’s systems, including source code, administrative privileges, and infrastructure documentation. In a grey box test, on the other hand, the person running the test has only some information, with no access to the source code or architecture diagram.  

Using various forms of testing allows us to find vulnerabilities in your security systems to external and internal attacks, aided by information obtained from within the company. 

Penetration testing is a great tool to have in your toolbox – it is nothing but a real-life test of the quality of your security systems and their resilience against cyberattacks. With a proper penetration test, you will get access to information about actual threats to the specific infrastructure. The results of the tests are summarised in a report that consists of a summary of the issues and vulnerabilities found, along with recommendations for corrective action.