Network Penetration Testing: Understanding the Costs and Requirements

What if we said that automotive cybersecurity swears by network penetration testing? You would say, we are joking. Ethical hackers hacked into Tesla’s model in 2019 and 2023, exposing vulnerabilities and taking remote control of the car’s braking system and other critical functions. Luckily, Tesla quickly acknowledged the flaws and released over-the-air security patches to fix them.

However, this is not the case for all organizations. Despite the best tools and technologies, security continues to be a common cause of concern for organizations. With hackers advancing their techniques every second, securing data has become even more critical to avoid cyber threats. Whether SMBs or enterprises, network pen testing can prevent costly breaches and maintain customer trust.

This is also why the global penetration testing market is expected to exceed $5 billion annually by 2031! While tools and organizational frameworks are necessary, network penetration testing adds an extra layer of security. And why do we say that? This blog will help you understand the different aspects of network penetration testing that will help you protect your business from common and advanced threats. Let’s go!

Network penetration testing involves using advanced hacking techniques for good. This will help you pinpoint security issues and test the readiness of your network to combat threats. While it is similar to a vulnerability assessment, a pen test is the exact simulation of a cyber attack to find vulnerabilities that are difficult to find with other techniques.

These attacks can also lead to machine corruption and denial of service. Thus, in some cases, you must inform your employees before you conduct these tests. A mix of social engineering techniques, such as using encrypted passwords to access sensitive databases and even phishing attacks, are used to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Despite its versatility, many companies don’t conduct network penetration tests, citing budgets as a primary constraint. Close to 33% of companies are at fault. Also, many companies fear that these tests, which take 3-5 weeks, may hamper their operations. However, with careful planning and execution, all these issues can be navigated.

Before we understand the primary attack vectors used in pen testing, let’s define them. They are paths or methods hackers use to breach a system. Here is a list of common attack vectors used by network penetration testers.

Scammers often trick employees into revealing sensitive details via emails that appear to be from legitimate sources. Penetration testers do the same but with pure intentions. They simulate phishing attacks to gauge how employees will respond to such attacks and how they can boost security awareness.

Often, outdated software has multiple security flaws, and when you don’t update them, hackers use them to gain access to your systems. Thus, penetration testers scan this outdated software to detect vulnerabilities and demonstrate the risks of not updating the systems.

It has been stressed repeatedly that strong passwords are essential. Attackers often misuse weak passwords to take control of your system and take advantage of passwords that have never been changed. Penetration testers check for weak passwords and enforce strong password policies.

Misconfigurations can also lead to security weaknesses. If you are using insecure default settings, enabling unnecessary services, and allowing unrestricted access to sensitive systems, you have set your business up for failure. This is why penetration testers examine configurations to check for security gaps that need attention.

In these attacks, hackers take over communication between two parties to tamper with data. The reasons for this are weak encryption methods and insecure public networks. Penetration testers use tools to mimic such attacks and help you implement better encryption and secure communication channels.

These attacks lead to higher traffic and can cause your website to crash or become slow. While penetration testers don’t launch these attacks full-scale, they can hamper your operations. They conduct these attacks in limited scope to test for vulnerabilities and suggest ways to boost resilience.

Not securing your wireless networks is inviting hackers. If you are using weak encryption protocols, rogue access points and unauthorized devices are major threats from which you need to protect your systems. This is why penetration testers assess wireless network security by breaking into Wi-Fi networks and checking for potential risks.

Does your system have poor access control settings? Attackers can quickly enter it and gain control over critical functions. To ensure such instances don’t happen, penetration testers gradually move from basic user accounts to admin accounts to identify security loopholes and help you stay ahead of hackers.

Now that you know the common attack vectors, let’s compare the costs of conducting a network penetration test and dealing with a data breach. Timely action will help you preserve millions.

Before we discuss the types of network penetration tests, let’s examine some real-world examples and understand the differences between vulnerability scans and pen tests.

Network penetration testing is carried out in phases to ensure minimal disruption. Let’s have a closer look at the testing phases.

• Reconnaissance: In the first stage, the testers gather all information about the target system, including operating systems, user accounts, and network topology. This information helps the plan and create an effective attack strategy. There are two ways to gather this data: testers can use publicly available information or interact with systems to gain knowledge. A blend of both must form a holistic picture of the target’s vulnerabilities.
• Scanning: Once all the relevant information has been collected, the testers use tools to check network traffic and identify open ports. These are entry points for hackers, and penetration testers must be aware of them.
• Vulnerability Assessment: This stage tests potential vulnerabilities to gauge where they can be exploited. Luckily, testers don’t have to start from scratch; they use the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The U.S. government maintains this database, which analyzes common software vulnerabilities and ranks them according to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
• Exploitation: It is time for the showdown, as testers attempt to access the targeted system and exploit vulnerabilities by simulating real-world attacks. While system crashes are rare, care must be taken not to compromise or damage the system.
• Reporting: In this stage, a report is generated to document the findings. A good report includes CVSS scores, details the impact of attacks, gives remediation advice, and lays down the further course of action.
• Remediation Assistance: Testers work with development teams to help them limit vulnerabilities and ensure an effective resolution after the reporting. Testers can do it on consultation calls or in person. A good tester or QA firm will help your teams design effective mitigation techniques.
• Retesting: In this phase, follow-up tests are conducted to analyze whether the identified problems have been addressed appropriately. A rating is given to check whether your organization’s security posture has improved.
• Getting a Security Certificate: Finally, a security certificate is issued to boost customer confidence, and a letter of attestation verifies the completion of penetration testing. You must use this certificate in your customer communication to demonstrate a strong security stance.

Now that you know how to conduct a penetration test successfully, it is time to learn how to make it a consistent practice. Here are some benefits for your business and challenges you must overcome. With careful analysis and change in your security strategies, you can overcome them.

Let us have a look at the different types of network penetration tests.

This testing method is focused on finding vulnerabilities in applications and software that run on end-user devices like web browsers, office suites, and email clients. You must conduct these tests regularly to ensure that attackers cannot gain access to your internal application via client-side applications. Conducting these tests will help you secure your endpoints.

If an unauthorized individual can gain access to locks, cameras, and access cards, your systems need a significant overhaul. Luckily, before any damage can be done, physical penetration testing gives you a second shot. Testers attempt to bypass security controls using multiple social engineering attacks, including tailgating and badge cloning. These tests are necessary if your organization handles sensitive information or valuable assets.

If you think your routers, switches, and firewalls are prone to threats, it is time to wake up! Attackers often gain access to your systems via outdated firmware or compromised network devices to hack your systems. The best benefit of this testing method is that you can safeguard your network infrastructure against all threats.

In this pen test, testers simulate phishing attacks to see how your employees respond to these attacks. Since humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity spectrum, such tests help organizations train employees well and can prevent social engineering attacks.

These tests are essential to ensuring the security of your wireless networks. Attackers can take advantage of misconfigured networks to gain unauthorized access. However, wireless penetration tests can ensure your networks are secure and inaccessible to hackers.

You will have multiple servers, websites, and other infrastructure as a business. However, they are not immune to attacks. Ethical hackers thus probe for weaknesses that external threats could exploit. And what does this involve? They check for unpatched software, misconfigured firewalls, and open ports. All this is done to determine the damage an attacker can inflict on your organization’s network without access.

In these tests, the attacks are simulated within the network to mimic insider threats. Testers here have some level of access and attempt to escalate privileges and move through the network. And how does this benefit you? You will know the weak points, such as insecure internal applications and unsegmented networks that could be exploited by malware or disgruntled employees.

In these tests security professionals conduct attacks on cloud infrastructure to find vulnerabilities like weak access controls, insecure APIs, and misconfigurations. These tests are a must to ensure that customer and company stored online is safe from all threats and compliance needs are met with ease.

When you know the risks beforehand, you can proactively foil hackers’ plans, thus boosting and strengthening network security. However, many organizations integrate Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to take it a step ahead. This helps you enforce strict access controls and ensure continuous verification. And what makes it possible? Well, penetration testing ensures no implicit trust within the network and leads to reduced breaches.

Also, since many organizations require penetration testing to comply with security regulations, ZTA boosts compliance efforts by continuously monitoring and enforcing least privilege access. Thus, you can sigh with relief that your security controls will remain effective.

Lastly, post-security incident penetration testing helps you patch vulnerabilities faster. ZTA and continuous authentication make this possible. These tools can create a resilient security framework that minimizes attack surfaces and reduces unauthorized access. Now that you understand the importance of boosting security posture with pen testing and ZTA, it is time to see how network penetration testing meets different compliance standards.

Since you are conducting a network penetration test to ensure your business stays ahead of hackers, you must have all the necessary resources. Let’s have a look at them one by one.

The first step is to ensure that you have defined your objectives and have assets and systems in place to be tested. This way, your tests will be aligned with your business goals and objectives. If you are unsure where to start, you can take the help of cyber security experts to help you navigate and execute your plans.

You don’t wish to land in a legal repercussion by conducting network penetration tests. Thus, ensure you get proper sanctions and inform your customers beforehand. The reason is that since real-world cyber attacks are simulated, they can unintentionally disrupt business operations.

Following from the above point, it is a must to follow industry standards. These include:

• Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES).

When you follow these frameworks, you can quickly identify, exploit, and document vulnerabilities. Also, you must make it a point to use a combination of automated and manual techniques to discover sophisticated security weaknesses. While computerized tools detect known vulnerabilities, manual testing ensures that complex attack vectors are not left unidentified.

Advanced expertise in areas like encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems combined with a strict ethical code is a must to maintain confidentiality and ensure sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands.

The final step is ensuring your report is well-documented and includes detailed findings, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations to address and eliminate security gaps. This will help you take remedial action promptly and boost overall security metrics. Also, continuous testing and consistent assessments help you maintain resilience against emerging cyber threats.

Before diving into the details, let’s understand the blue and purple teams. These sub-teams simulate cyber attacks and check whether our organization is ready to combat threats. Let’s also understand the fundamental differences between their approaches and outcomes.

While the penetration test cost can go up to $40,000, you can start as low as $5,000. While a cheap penetration test may look alluring in the short run, it is not worth it. The sole purpose of finding vulnerabilities will be defeated, and you will be left to fend for yourself amidst looming cyber threats. Let’s understand the cost factors that impact network penetration testing.

The prices will be higher or lower depending on the scope and complexity of your project. If it is enormous, more time must be spent, leading to higher costs—factors like the number of applications, systems, and assets being tested impact the overall price. Also, if you are dealing with legacy systems and use middleware or integration solutions, the effort for network penetration testing will be extra, adding to your costs.

Industries like finance and healthcare must meet specific regulatory requirements during penetration testing. However, adhering to all these requirements increases complexity and costs. Compliance with regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, or ISO 27001 can also increase the cost of penetration testing.

Some companies offer additional support services and help you maintain a strong security stance. While these services allow you to stay consistent with your cybersecurity initiatives, they can also add to costs in the long run. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of these options and decide what works best for your business.

While a company that has been in penetration testing for a long time and has a solid reputation will charge more, this will also ensure a comprehensive risk assessment. Senior penetration testers have relevant industry certifications like OffSec‘s Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), which helps them achieve valuable results and efficiently address security risks.

Here is a look at the multiple components of network penetration testing and their prices.

However, the list of factors doesn’t end here. Commercial models also impact the price of network security penetration testing. Let’s see how.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of network penetration testing.

• Show Risks and Vulnerabilities: Using the right tools and techniques, you can identify security gaps that hackers could exploit, allowing proactive remediation.
• Ensures Business Continuity: When you can easily handle threats, you can look forward to minimizing downtime and disruptions.
• Customer trust remains intact: When customers know their data is safe, it reinforces their trust in your company’s security measures.
• Boosts Organizational Compliance: You can easily avoid fines and legal issues when adhering to industry regulations.
• Reputation Management: By preventing data breaches and protecting customer privacy, you can avoid damage to your brand image and public trust.
• Mergers and Acquisitions Are Smoother: When you assess cybersecurity risks before integrations, you can look forward to reducing potential liabilities.

While network-penetration testing offers many benefits, it also presents challenges. Here are some challenges and solutions to help you quickly address system vulnerabilities.

• False Positives with Automated Tools: Automated tools often lag non-issues, which can become issues later. The cure lies in balancing manual and automated testing methods.
• Fear of Destroying Infrastructure: To prevent disruptions, use nonintrusive methods and sandbox environments. Although extensive damage is rare, these methods are effective.
• Lack of Good Testing Environment: You must try to set up a dedicated test environment that mirrors the production environment. This will prevent any harm to your operations.
• Scope Limitations: You must clearly define the scope and objectives and ensure comprehensive coverage of all critical assets.
• Skill Gaps: The only way to cover skill gaps is to invest in cybersecurity training or hire experienced penetration testers to enhance expertise.
• Evolving Threat Landscape: Regularly updating testing methods allows you to keep pace with new attack vectors.

Let’s have a look at how different industries make use of network penetration efforts.

AI and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing penetration testing by automating threat detection, vulnerability analysis, and attack simulations. Businesses worldwide use these tools to analyze vast amounts of data and boost their security. They strengthen the core of your network by penetrating testing strategies and helping you predict potential security weaknesses, making it more efficient and proactive. Wait, there is more to it! With AI-powered penetration testing, you can look forward to prioritizing risks. If you wish to take it a notch higher, you can incorporate Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) in your strategy. And how does it help you? Well, it boosts your penetration testing efforts by aggregating security logs and paving the way for real-time threat detection. In totality, AI in cybersecurity combined with ML and SIEM will help you create a more resilient cybersecurity framework.

While a business must conduct a network penetration test at least once or twice a year, the frequency depends on multiple factors. For example, 43% of companies conduct pen tests at least once a year. Let’s understand the factors that influence pen testing frequency.

• Industry Regulations & Compliance Requirements: An ad agency will not have to follow the same compliance standards as a fintech institution.
• Infrastructure Changes: If you have updated your systems, changed network configurations, or added new applications, frequent tests are essential
• Cybersecurity Threat Landscape: Quarterly or continuous tests are necessary if operating in a high-risk industry.
• Incident Response & Previous Attacks: If your business has recently faced a cyber attack, pen testing must be done immediately to prevent such future incidents.
• Budget & Risk Tolerance: Pen tests can be conducted annually if your company has a lower risk profile. However, you must be proactive with pen tests if you handle sensitive data.

Here is a better look at how different industries should schedule a network penetration test.

If you are wondering if you should outsource network penetration testing or do it in-house, we will help you decide. While both approaches have their benefits, let us understand how they can impact your business.

While Tesla is a classic example of making network penetration testing a considerable success, other fascinating examples exist. Let’s have a look at them.

Facebook has been a game changer for ethical hackers. They often invite hackers to perform penetration tests on their platform. In 2013, a researcher named Khalil Shreateh found a loophole allowing him to post on any user’s timeline without permission. While Facebook initially rubbished the claim, he demonstrated it by posting on Zuckerberg’s timeline. He was not paid for his efforts because he violated Facebook’s responsible disclosure policy. This incident emphasizes the importance of penetration testing.

If you wish to implement the same for your business, here is what you need to do:

• Lay down your goals and objectives for network pen testing. Decide if you want to keep the program open to the public or only skilled researchers. You must also decide whether internal networks or external-facing services will be tested. Also, conduct your research before you open your system to the public.
• The second step is determining whether you wish to manage the initiative yourself or via a third-party platform. Keep a legal team in the loop to ensure the initiative you are about to undertake is legal and compliant. Trust us, this will save you from many hassles in the later stages.
• The third step is to publish a Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP). This should include all rules of engagement, methods to report vulnerabilities, and a statement that protects researchers from legal issues. Here is an example of a reward range you can keep to attract the cream of ethical hackers. Make sure they are within your budget.

• Establish a structured reporting template to avoid confusion in the later stages. You will also need to set a response time for ethical hackers and establish a team to address the vulnerabilities found.
• After making the reports, implement all the measures suggested to boost organizational resilience.

In 2016, senior penetration testers discovered significant flaws in Windows and macOS that allowed them to take control of systems. When they disclosed these to the team, they ensured the issues were patched before cybercriminals could exploit them. The Google Project Zero initiative has helped prevent numerous cyber attacks by testing software for vulnerabilities.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) launched the “Hack the Pentagon” program in 2016. The initial phase saw the participation of 1,400+ hackers who found 140 vulnerabilities. After the success of this penetration testing initiative, the DoD decided to expand the program and promote ethical hacking to strengthen national security.

While vulnerability scans are ideal for routine checks and guaranteeing compliance requirements, you will need network penetration testing for real-world simulation of cyber attacks. To uncover more profound security gaps, you must incorporate vulnerability scans into your cybersecurity strategy. Let’s find the main differences between network penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.

Having read about both approaches, it is clear that both of them have their significant share of advantages and disadvantages. Thus, hybrid security models are your perfect solution for adopting a security framework. Not only are they an ideal blend of methods, but they also help you build a more resilient security posture. And why do we say that? Well, they integrate both on-premise and cloud-based solutions. This enables you to keep your confidential information safe. At the same time, you can benefit from the scalability and flexibility of public cloud services. Adopting a hybrid security model lets testers simulate attacks across multiple interconnected systems. By doing so, they can easily find vulnerabilities and gaps.

In a world where compliance has become the backbone of every business, every cybersecurity measure you undertake must have compliance at the forefront. Let’s see how network penetration tests help you meet different compliance standards.

Now that you know the necessary compliance measures, it is time to understand best practices.

Before you kickstart your penetration testing efforts, get the approval of your CIO (Chief Information Officer) and key stakeholders. Since operations can be halted, having them in the loop is necessary. Also, penetration testing without authorization can be illegal and considered an attack. Thus, ensure you follow all the ethical standards, such as the ISC2 Code of Ethics, and avoid any actions that could harm clients or third parties. Last but not least, only work with professionals who are certified. They will help you evaluate your infrastructure well and provide a detailed list of vulnerabilities and their mitigation best practices.

Your chosen penetration tester(s) or company should know the legal requirements. This way, you can ensure security throughout the process, ensure nothing slips through the cracks, and that your penetration testing efforts are carried out successfully. You must use industry-standard methodologies, including OWASP Testing Guide, NIST SP 800-115, and PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard), to finish the process systematically.

Penetration testing can expose sensitive information. However, you need to be over-cautious to avoid tampering. The first step is to ensure that data is stored in a secure environment. Not all people in your organization need to have access to sensitive data. A common practice is to store all test logs and reports on an encrypted and access-controlled server. Also, the server can be accessed by authorized testers and the security team lead.

If you have not planned your penetration testing initiatives, you have set yourself up for failure. To avoid hampering your operations, schedule tests during off-peak hours and start with non-intrusive methods gradually gaining momentum. This will help you be on the same page as your employees and customers while maintaining high-security standards.

Effective reporting ensures vulnerabilities are understood and tracked to resolution. Thus, we request that your hired/in-house penetration testers provide detailed, actionable reports with risk ratings. The report must also highlight remediation guidance for the identified vulnerabilities. Another thing you must do is to conduct assessments. Doing all this will help you reap the full benefits of your network penetration efforts.

Post-penetration testing, you must document all phases and maintain a dedicated audit trail of actions taken during testing. Storing these insights will help you for future audits or compliance checks. And your effort doesn’t end here! You must schedule regular penetration tests and stay updated with the latest testing methodologies to keep up with evolving threats.

Cybersecurity trends suggest that network pen testing and attack vectors are evolving. Let’s look at the future trends of network penetration testing.

The AI cybersecurity market is all set to hit $60.6 billion by 2028. More cybersecurity firms and organizations will use AI to boost their penetration efforts. AI can massively help detect suspicious patterns and deal with threats in real-time. Since hackers also use AI to advance their attacks, it would be interesting to note how offensive and defensive reach a tandem.

An emerging trend, OSaaS lets you test your security posture consistently using outsourced red teams. It differs from regular penetration testing efforts as it helps you identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Soon, more organizations will leverage these services and ensure they boost their network penetration testing efforts. Businesses handling sensitive data will ensure they undertake these initiatives periodically and enforce continuous security validation measures across the organizational spectrum.

One of the common challenges faced by penetration testers is securing IoT devices. The Mirai Botnet attack was a high-profile incident that leveraged IoT vulnerabilities to launch DDoS attacks. If you are also dealing with IoT devices and unsure how to secure them, it is time to consult experts and stay upbeat with the trends. Future penetration testing efforts will focus on mitigating threats in IoT devices and industrial control systems. This change will be driven by more businesses providing the best training to penetration testers to address these devices’ unique challenges.

As regulatory bodies tighten cybersecurity laws, organizations will prioritize penetration testing for compliance globally. While fintech and healthcare organizations have a solid focus on maintaining security standards and compliance, other industries will follow the same trend. As businesses continue to follow a hybrid approach for penetration testing, they will partner only with providers with compliance certifications or incorporate tools that automate compliance efforts.

As cloud adoption skyrockets, businesses are shifting their focus toward cloud security assessments. However, this steep increase also makes cloud infrastructure a primary target for cybercriminals. While networking penetration has evolved over the years, it is not apt for cloud environments. The assessments must be tailored per these environments to get a clear picture of API security and misconfigurations. In the upcoming years, more penetration testers will focus on serverless security, container vulnerabilities, and identity access management (IAM) to address emerging threats effectively.

Staying proactive in fortifying your cybersecurity defenses is a must to ensure top-notch security for your organization. We understand that and will help you design a detailed security roadmap after understanding your requirements. Here is why you should partner with BuzzClan for network penetration testing.

In the ever-evolving threat landscape, the approach lies in going beyond proactivity. For the same, you need to adopt proactive testing strategies, use AI and IoT, and partner with cybersecurity consultants to stay ahead of lurking threats. Don’t wait for hackers to decide whether your systems are secure. The key lies in using comprehensive and tailored strategies for pen testing. As you go ahead, you can lay down guidelines and find the best approaches and test types for your business. BuzzClan, with its top-tier cybersecurity services, is there to support you at all organizational levels.