{"id":5455,"date":"2022-10-26T13:31:14","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T03:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/anitechgroup.com\/au\/?p=5455"},"modified":"2023-07-25T17:27:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T07:27:53","slug":"penetration-testing-techniques-to-secure-management-systems-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anitechgroup.com\/au\/blog\/penetration-testing-techniques-to-secure-management-systems-in-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Penetration Testing Techniques to Secure Management Systems in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

With an upward surge in cyber-attacks in Australia, cyber security has become a key priority and penetration testing techniques can help prevent attacks.<\/p>\n

Let’s discuss different types of penetration testing techniques that can safeguard and protect your management systems from intelligence threats and data breaches.<\/p>\n

Penetration Testing<\/h2>\n

Penetration testing is a method of hacking into your company\u2019s management systems. An approved team of experts examines your company’s management systems from a hacker’s perspective. This process guides the identification of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by unwanted intruders.<\/p>\n

Understanding your security posture is the first step in securing your business.<\/p>\n

Since penetration tests mimic real-world attacks, they are an effective defence mechanism. They enable you to identify the weak points in your cybersecurity perimeters, such as backdoors in the operating system, unintentional design flaws in the code, or incorrect software configurations.<\/p>\n

Penetration testing helps in performing vulnerability assessment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your organisation will be able to boost the security of your applications, networks, and physical environments by prioritising reports detailing your company’s vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

Penetration Testing Techniques<\/h3>\n

There are three main types of penetration testing techniques used in Australia:<\/p>\n

Black Box Penetration Testing<\/h4>\n

The primary aim of this penetration testing technique is to simulate a cyber-attack in which the hacker is unaware of the target company’s IT structure. They launch a high-intensity all-out attack on the system hoping to find a weak link. This is a ‘trial and error\u2019 approach.<\/p>\n

The tester is not given any prior information about the network architecture or security features of the target system. Therefore, they must depend on their own technical skills to automate processes, scan tools, and manually penetrate with testing methodologies. They need to be skilled individuals that can map the target network based on their observations. Their ultimate goal is to find the system’s vulnerabilities. As a result, black box penetration testing can take time for the process to be completed<\/p>\n

A penetration tester will begin by scanning the network to identify a firewall. After identifying the firewall, they will attempt to bypass it by sending packets to elicit a response. The route taken by these packets will help to determine the devices and routers that are hosted on the company network.<\/p>\n

A black box test might to six weeks to complete thoroughly, however, this can vary depending on the time, resources and budget allocated to the project. The scope and the testing rigor are also factors that determine the delivery of the outcome.<\/p>\n

White Box Penetration Testing<\/h4>\n

In this format of penetration testing, the tester is provided with comprehensive documents detailing the software architecture and source code of the web applications.<\/p>\n

This is also known as clear box testing or internal testing. It provides the tester with immediate access to the networks and company systems. The purpose of supplying the tester with all the information is to resemble an attack by a hacker who has already gained access to the system.<\/p>\n

They begin with the same privileges as an authorised user, and then attempt to exploit system-level security and configuration flaws. The purpose is to conduct an in-depth audit of the different systems and provide answers to two key questions:<\/p>\n

1. How far can an attacker go using privilege escalation?<\/p>\n

2. How much damage can an attack do?<\/p>\n

White box penetration testing uses testing methods that require the application of more advanced testing tools, including debuggers and software code analysers.<\/p>\n

Grey Box Penetration Testing<\/h4>\n

This form of penetration testing falls in between white and black box testing.<\/p>\n

In grey box testing, the penetration tester has a limited understanding of the system. They commence the test by focusing on the familiar areas of the web application. The grey box test can use both automated and manual processes, thus increasing the likelihood of discovering more obscure ‘weak spots.’<\/p>\n

Features that differentiate a grey box test from a black box test include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The tester has access to user\/administrator accounts.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The tester is familiar with the application’s data flow and architecture.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The tester has access to portions of the source code.<\/p>\n

Common Types of Penetration Testing Techniques<\/h3>\n

There are five common types of penetration testing techniques which are described below:<\/p>\n

Network Penetration Test<\/h4>\n

A network penetration test is used to identify exploitable flaws in the:<\/p>\n