6 Main Types of Cyber-Security Testing

ByScott Andery
Cyber-Security Testing

The need for cybersecurity testing is clear, and IT professionals use a range of styles to address implicit pitfalls and strengthen a company’s structure. Understanding the different testing styles can help you produce a systematized strategy for your cybersecurity approach.

The best-suited way to use cybersecurity testing styles is to produce a schedule for colorful tests to keep your security systems robust and to date. 

Therefore, we are going to explore the different testing styles and security testing processes used by cyber security testing companies.

Cybersecurity Audit

These checkups generally give companies a visionary approach to the security design process. Once they know what gaps they need to fill, they can design security setup with further intention.

Numerous factors can affect how frequently a business opts for a cybersecurity inspection, but doing so annually is generally recommended. As a rule, companies should also employ checkups when they’ve altered their network setups, introduced new software, expanded, or made any other significant changes to their technology ecosystem.

Note that diligence with advanced compliance conditions similar to HIPAA compliance may choose to do further checkups throughout the time to align with applicable norms and regulations. Also, budget conditions may determine how frequently a business chooses to conduct a security inspection.

Penetration Test

Frequently called pen testing, penetration testing is a form of ethical hacking. During a pen test, IT professionals will designedly launch a cyberattack on a system to pierce or exploit operations, websites, and networks. The main idea of a pen test is to identify areas of weakness in a security system.

The specific pretensions of a pen test depend on the area professionals hack. In the case of networks, the end is to calibrate firewall rules, close unused anchorages, and exclude any loopholes. For websites, professionals want to identify and report notable vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting and buffer overflow.

There are several styles of penetration testing, and the type that IT workers use will depend on an association’s pretensions and security enterprises

  • Internal tests
  • External tests
  • Blind tests
  • Double-blind tests
  • Targeted tests

 Generally, businesses should perform penetration tests annually or after any major changes to network structure.

Vulnerability Scan

A vulnerability checkup is a process of relating security sins in systems and software with the thing of guarding an association against breaches. This checkup is frequently confused with penetration testing because they’ve analogous functions. still, they’re different.

In cyber-security testing companies, IT professionals use designated software to identify vulnerabilities. These scanners produce a force for all systems and run them against a database of known vulnerabilities to see implicit matches.

At the end of the checkup, known vulnerabilities will be stressed for a company to handle.

Security Scan

A security or configuration checkup quests for misconfiguration in a system. A misconfiguration is an incorrect or sour design of a system or system elements that can lead to vulnerabilities. When security systems aren’t defined or the dereliction values aren’t maintained, a misconfiguration occurs.

Unfortunately, hackers know misconfigurations are easy to descry. generally, exploited misconfigurations can lead to high-volume data leakage that can beget detrimental to businesses.

Common misconfigurations include

  • Default account settings
  • Unencrypted lines
  • Unpatched systems
  • Outdated web apps
  • Inadequate firewall

Risk Assessment

A cybersecurity threat assessment is a process that analyzes the colorful security controls in an association and what possible pitfalls can do within them. These assessments are comprehensive processes that assess pitfalls and produce strategies for mollifying them.

The information means that is vulnerable to pitfalls including tackle, software, intellectual property, client data, and further. There are four essential ways to a threat assessment

  •  Identify
  •  Assess
  •  Alleviate
  •  Prevent

 Posture Assessment

A posture assessment is the stylish original test among the security testing styles because it can guide your approach to security. This assessment refers to your cybersecurity posture — the strength of your protocols and controls to precluding cyber pitfalls.

In cyber-security testing companies IT professionals perform posture assessments through a range of processes that look at internal and external factors. Unlike checkups or pen tests, posture assessments can give definite guidance for perfecting cybersecurity maturity. This guidance frequently seeks to maximize return- on- investment( ROI) for security protocols.