Penetration Testing In Cyber Security:Types, Pros And Cons
Updated on Mar 07, 2025 | 9 min read | 2.6k views
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Updated on Mar 07, 2025 | 9 min read | 2.6k views
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Penetration testing in cyber security is a controlled hacking method in which a professional pen tester, acting on behalf of a business, uses the same tactics as a criminal hacker to look for weaknesses in the company’s networks or applications. The method comprises numerous steps, including information collecting, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, and reporting.
Penetration testing in cyber security is widely recognised as a vital technique to safeguard enterprises against cyber threats. This blog will discuss how to do penetration testing in cyber security, why pen testing is important, and penetration testing methods to help you understand its significance and how it can benefit your organisation.
Penetration testing, often known as pen testing, is essential to cybersecurity. It entails analysing a computer system’s applications, architecture, and network for vulnerabilities and susceptibility to threats like hackers and cyberattacks.
Penetration testing may benefit a company since pen testers are professionals who think like adversaries; they can analyse data to focus their assaults and test systems and websites in ways automated testing solutions following a script cannot. Penetration testing in cyber security is a component of a thorough security examination.
Ethical hackers are IT professionals who employ hacking techniques to assist organisations in identifying potential entry points into their infrastructure. Most pen testers are security consultants or experienced developers with penetration testing in cyber security certification. It is ideal to have a pen test done by someone with little to no prior knowledge of how the system is secured since they may be able to find vulnerabilities that individuals familiar with the system are unaware of. Other consultants frequently conduct penetration testing in cyber security since they are trained to detect, exploit, and record vulnerabilities and use their findings to enhance the organisation’s security posture.
Here are the key reasons why penetration testing in cyber security is important:
Listed below are some common types of penetration testing in cyber security:
Cloud penetration testing in cyber security is a simulated assault evaluating an organisation’s cloud-based applications and infrastructure security. The goal is to discover security risks and vulnerabilities and provide remedial recommendations. It entails modelling a controlled cyber assault to detect possible flaws.
Several approaches and tools may be employed depending on the cloud service and provider. However, conducting cloud penetration testing in cyber security poses legal and technological difficulties. Each cloud service provider has its testing policy. Cloud pen testing is critical for assuring the security of cloud environments, systems, and devices, and its suitability relies on context and purpose.
This method helps uncover security flaws in applications and systems by using malicious tactics to evaluate the network’s security. It includes simulating cyberattacks against the target system to find vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.
A network penetration test aims to enhance a company’s defences against cyberattacks. The benefits of this testing include getting insight into an organisation’s security posture, finding and fixing security control flaws, and making networks safer and less prone to assaults.
Web application penetration testing is a rigorous procedure that simulates assaults on a system to detect vulnerabilities and exploits that potentially compromise it.
This step is vital in the secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) to create a system that users can safely use, free from hacking or data loss risks. The process comprises obtaining information, discovering vulnerabilities, and reporting them, with continuous assistance for remedy.
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API penetration testing is a key method to uncover security vulnerabilities in APIs, including sensitive information leaks, bulk assignments, bypass of access controls, failed authentication, SQL injection, and input validation problems.
It comprises five stages — preparation, reconnaissance, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, and reporting. It helps firms achieve security compliance requirements and secure sensitive data, systems, and procedures.
Mobile pen testing helps find and assess security vulnerabilities in mobile apps, software, and operating systems. It seeks to expose weaknesses before they are exploited for malevolent advantage.
Mobile apps are part of a wider mobile ecosystem that interacts with devices, network infrastructure, servers, and data centres. Tools like Mobile Security Framework, Mobexler, and MSTG Hacking Playground are available for testing.
Smart contract penetration testing is vital for detecting and exploiting flaws in self-executing blockchain-based computer applications. It includes playing the role of a “hacker” to find security holes in a system or network.
Methods include unit testing, static analysis, dynamic analysis, and formal verification. Web3 penetration testing covers the particular security problems of blockchain technology and its ecosystem, with smart contract vulnerabilities being a prominent worry.
This security assessment approach examines an organisation’s vulnerability to social engineering attacks. It replicates real-world attacks, allowing the firm to play the role of the opponent and discover strengths and vulnerabilities.
The assessment helps measure employees’ adherence to security policies and procedures, demonstrating how quickly an invader may convince them to breach security restrictions. It can be part of larger penetration testing, attempting to find flaws and vulnerabilities with a clear route to remedy.
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Some stages of penetration testing in cyber security are:
In this step, the tester acquires as much information about the target system as possible, including network architecture, operating systems and applications, user accounts, and other pertinent information. The purpose is to acquire as much data as possible so the tester can prepare an effective assault strategy.
Once the tester has obtained enough information, they employ scanning tools to examine the system and network flaws. This phase analyses the system flaws that can be exploited for targeted attacks.
This step involves a comprehensive investigation of the target system to detect potential vulnerabilities and assess whether they can be exploited. Like scanning, vulnerability assessment is a helpful technique but is more potent when integrated with the other penetration testing phases.
Once the tester has obtained admission, they aim to retain access to the system for as long as feasible. This step is essential because it allows the tester to see how long they can remain unnoticed and what amount of harm they can accomplish.
Here, the tester evaluates the penetration testing findings and provides a report detailing the vulnerabilities detected, the methods used to exploit them, and recommendations for remedy.
The final stage of pen testing entails cleaning up the environment, reconfiguring any access acquired to enter the environment, and preventing future unwanted entry into the system using whatever means required.
Here are some of the most commonly used methods:
External penetration testing involves assessing the network’s security outside the organisation’s boundary. The purpose is to uncover vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker who is not authorised to access the network.
This approach involves assessing the network’s security within the organisation’s perimeter. The purpose is to detect vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker with access to the network.
Blind testing includes verifying the network’s security without any prior knowledge of the network’s infrastructure. The purpose is to recreate a real-world attack situation where the attacker has no prior knowledge of the network.
This approach entails verifying the network’s security without any prior knowledge of the network’s infrastructure and the knowledge of the IT employees. The purpose is to imitate a real-world attack where the IT personnel is unaware of the testing.
This approach includes assessing the security of a single network area, such as a particular application or service. The purpose is to uncover vulnerabilities peculiar to that section of the network.
Here is a table that summarises the main differences between vulnerability assessments and penetration testing:
Aspect | Vulnerability Assessment | Penetration Testing |
Purpose | Identify potential weaknesses in an organisation’s IT infrastructure through high-level security scans | Simulate real-world attacks to test the effectiveness of security measures and provide a more in-depth analysis of the organisation’s security posture |
Automation | Can be automated | Requires various levels of expertise |
Report | Provides a higher level of risk assessment | Contains detailed step-by-step guides to reproduce and fix vulnerabilities |
Cost | Generally more cost-effective | Generally conducted less frequently and are higher in cost |
Enumerated below are some advantages and disadvantages of pen testing:
While penetration testing in cyber security offers considerable advantages in detecting vulnerabilities and strengthening security, companies should carefully assess the costs, resources, and potential constraints involved with the practice. Treating penetration testing in cyber security as part of a holistic security plan that includes frequent updates, patches, and continuous monitoring to enable persistent protection against emerging threats is crucial.
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