Penetration testing is driven by several factors, including a growing need for compliance, increased concern about the impact of security breaches on similar organizations, the use of a larger number and variety of outsourced services, significant changes to business processes, and a heightened awareness of the potential for cyber-attacks.
Establishing and managing a suitable penetration testing program can be a challenging task, even for advanced organizations. Some organizations adopt an ad hoc or piecemeal approach when performing penetration tests, depending on the needs of a particular region, business unit, or the IT department. Although this approach can fulfill a specific requirement, it is unlikely to provide real assurance about the overall security condition of enterprise-wide systems.
It is advisable to adopt a more systematic, structured approach to penetration testing as part of an overall testing program, ensuring that:
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- Business requirements are met
- Major system vulnerabilities are identified and addressed quickly and effectively
- Risks are kept within acceptable business parameters
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Your penetration testing program should also cover key activities required to prepare for penetration testing. Any program must include an appropriate set of tests, delivered in a consistent, well-managed way and measures to ensure the tests are followed up effectively.
Also, to ensure the effectiveness of your penetration testing program, it should be integrated with an approved technical security assurance framework that is designed to safeguard your critical information and systems.
Finally, it is advisable to incorporate one or more of the most popular penetration testing standards like:
The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) which is a framework that provides guidelines and best practices for conducting penetration testing engagements. It outlines a standardized approach to ensure consistent and thorough testing of systems, applications, and networks.
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) which includes the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard, the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide, the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard and the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide.
NIST SP 800-115, Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) special publication 800-115 aims to offer organizations guidelines for effective planning and execution of technical information security testing and assessments, as well as analyzing findings and developing appropriate mitigation strategies. It provides practical recommendations for designing, implementing, and maintaining processes and procedures related to technical information security testing.