Computer networks are constantly under threat of attack from both internal and external sources. A penetration test analyzes a system’s vulnerabilities and seeks to exploit those vulnerabilities by simulating the use of malicious and invasive software to gather information. After a penetration test has been performed, the information about the network’s weak spots are brought to the site’s owners or IT professionals along with explicit recommendations and suggestions to close those security gaps.
A black box penetration tests simulates an outside attack which is designed to shut a computer’s network down. The tester will use all of the tricks and methodologies at their disposal in an effort to emulate a hacker’s persistence. There is a lot of research involved with a black box penetration test. The tester has been hired to break into the system, an in-depth process which calls all of the tools of both the white-hat and black-hat hackers into play. This testing is much more expensive than the white box penetration testing.
The white box penetration test evaluates the efficacy of a network’s internal protection. Network configurations, source codes and the occasional password are provided in the white box penetration test. With the source code and material available, all of the information about a system is out in the open so that a security professional can actively evaluate a site. The white box penetration test is also less expensive than the black box testing because all of the information is available to the administrators up front.
Data security is the ultimate goal of any IT professional. Penetration testing training is another tool for your IT department to have in order to carry out this goal. There is no question of what color hat the internal penetration tester is wearing. There are no worries to the secure information that may be at the network administrator’s disposal. There is also no need to wait for the indepth report from an outside company. Any threats to your data are immediately addressed and remedied.
With penetration testing training, your people become more aware of the security risks to your company’s network and data. The security risks to your company’s network and data are kept internal, and fixed internally. There are no worries about outside sources having access to your data. Penetration testing training allows you to set up a network fortress which is impervious to outside attacks. In short, penetration testing training gives peace of mind.
