Network Penetration Testing

What is Network Penetration Testing?

The primary objective of a network penetration test is to find exploitable vulnerabilities in networks, applications, hosts and network devices (i.e. routers, switches) before hackers can discover and exploit such vulnerabilities. Network penetration testing can expose real-world incentives for hackers to be able to exploit systems and networks in a way that enables unauthorized access to confidential data or even malicious / non-business-related takeover systems.

What is our methodology?

Our penetration testing methodology involves an attack simulation carried out by our highly qualified security consultants in an attempt to:

  • identify security vulnerabilities present in the system
  • Understand the level of risk for your organization
  • Help resolve and correct identified network security vulnerabilities

High-Tech Network Security penetration testers have experience supporting network, devices, and hosts — not only trying to hack them. They use this expertise on sensitive issues to focus in, and provide actionable advice on remediation.

Approach

The network penetration testing service of High-Tech Security uses a systematic, risk-based approach to manually detect essential network-centric vulnerabilities that occur on all networks, devices, and hosts within the scope.

  • 1. Information Gathering
  • 2. Threat Modeling
  • 3. Vulnerability Analysis
  • 4. Exploitation
  • 5. Post-Exploitation
  • 6. Reports

Manual Testing vs Automated Testing

The approach of high tech consists of approximately 80 percent manual testing and approximately 20 percent automated testing-real results that differ slightly. Although automated testing allows for efficiency, it is successful only during the initial phases of a penetration test to provide performance. At High-Tech Security it is our belief that only by robust manual testing techniques can an accurate and thorough penetration test be carried out.

Tools

High-Tech Security uses commercial tools, internally built software and the same tools that hacker uses on each and every analysis to conduct a detailed real-world evaluation. Once again, our aim is to test systems by simulating a real-world attack, and to effectively perform that function, we use the many resources available to us.

Reporting

We interpret the reporting process as marking the start of our relationship. High-Tech aims to offer the best customer experience and service possible. Our study therefore only represents a small part of our deliverables. We provide customers with an online knowledge base on remediation, dedicated remediation staff and Ticketing system to close the ever-widening gap in the post-reporting remediation process.
We exist not only to find vulnerabilities but also to repair vulnerabilities.

Methodology

Each and every network penetration test is carried out consistently using common frameworks agreed internationally and even from industry. High-Tech leverages industry standard structures as the basis for conducting penetration tests to ensure a reliable and thorough penetration test. The underlying structure, at a minimum, is based on the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) but goes beyond the original structure itself.

Intelligence Gathering

The information-gathering phase consists of service enumeration, network mapping, banner reconnaissance and more. Host and service discovery efforts results in a compiled list of all accessible systems and their respective services with the goal of obtaining as much information about the systems as possible.
Host and service discovery includes initial domain foot printing, live host detection, service enumeration and operating system and application fingerprinting. The purpose of this step is to collectively map the in-scope environment and prepare for threat identification.

Threat Modeling

Security testing transitions to finding vulnerabilities within systems, with the information obtained from the previous phase. This initially starts with automated scans but soon evolves into manual deep dive testing techniques. The assets are classified and categorized into threat categories during the threat-modeling phase. Which can include: classified records, trade secrets, financial information but more generally, technical details found during the previous process.

Vulnerability Analysis

The process of vulnerability analysis includes the recording and review of identified vulnerabilities as a result of the previous phases. It involves evaluating the various safety methods and manual monitoring techniques. A list of attractive vulnerabilities, suspicious services and things worth further investigating has been generated and weighted for further review at this stage. The plan of attack is in essence developed here.

Exploitation

Unlike a vulnerability evaluation, directly by way of exploitation, a penetration test takes such a test quite a bit further. Exploitation typically involves carrying out the exploit of the vulnerability (ie: buffer overflow) in an attempt to be certain whether the vulnerability is genuinely exploitable. This process consists of using intense manual monitoring techniques during a High-Tech Security network penetration test, which is therefore very time-intensive.

Reporting

The aim of the reporting phase is to produce, rank and prioritize findings to the project stakeholders and generate a transparent and actionable report, complete with facts. Findings can be addressed via Webex or in-person – whichever format is most conducive to delivering results. At High-Tech Security we see this step as the most critical and we take great care to ensure that we have fully communicated the importance of our service and findings.

Deliverable

At High-Tech Security, we see the Distribution / Reporting process as the most critical and we take great care to ensure that we have fully communicated the importance of our service and findings. The deliverable consists of an electronic report comprising several main components including but not limited to: Executive Summary, Scope, Conclusions, Facts, Tools, and Methodology. A raw file in comma-separated value (CSV) format is also presented in addition to the report, in an attempt to facilitate the remediation and management of any identified findings.

WHY CHOOSE US

Here are 4 reasons why you should choose us

People

We understand that our people impact the success of our business, and we hire people who are smart.

Customer services

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Support

Our engineers are trustworthy, dedicated and experienced and will go the extra mile to solve your IT issues.

Quality

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