Penetration Testing Koblenz

A penetration test, or "pentest" for short, is a security check that emulates an attack by a malicious party on a network or application to identify security vulnerabilities. This test is coordinated in advance and conducted in such a way that no system is damaged. At the end of the test, you will receive a report that includes the problems and vulnerabilities found, along with suggestions on how to fix them.

Admittedly, this is not so easy - if someone tells you that they only work with the best pentesters, this may be difficult to verify. that they only work with the best pentesters, it may be difficult to verify. Pentesters with more experience and more extensive training are often more expensive. Just remember that you get what you pay for. Beware of pentesters who offer prices that are too good to be true. They are probably not doing a thorough job. I suggest looking for penetration testers who have one or - better - several recognized Pentester certifications.

Among the most respected (and costly) certifications in security circles in the in the field of penetration testing are the certifications of Offensive Security (esp. OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional, OSCE - Offensive Security Certified Expert) and SANS/GIAC.

An IT security audit examines the security of a company's IT systems from a holistic perspective. Security threats can arise not only from attacks, but also from technical incidents, organizational deficiencies or force majeure.
Security audits often take place as part of an ISMS (information security management system) and examine not only technical security elements but also compliance with the company's own standards and guidelines, security processes, employee training (keyword information security awareness) and similar aspects. Some security audits also include elements of a vulnerability scan.
However, a security audit usually does not go into as much technical detail as a manual penetration test.

Both penetration testing and automated vulnerability scanning are useful tools for identifying technical risks and security vulnerabilities. Although they are different testing methods, they complement each other and should both be performed.

A vulnerability scan is an automated, low-cost method for testing common network and server vulnerabilities. This is sometimes referred to as automated pen testing. There are many automated tools available, and most can be easily configured by the end user to scan for published vulnerabilities on a scheduled basis. While an automated vulnerability scan is very efficient and cost-effective at identifying common vulnerabilities such as missing patches, service misconfigurations, and other known vulnerabilities, they are not as accurate at verifying the correctness of vulnerabilities, nor do they fully determine impact through exploitation. Automated scanners are more prone to reporting false positives (falsely reported vulnerabilities) and false negatives (unidentified vulnerabilities, especially those affecting web applications). Automated vulnerability scanning is mandated by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Well-known vulnerability scanners include and OpenVAS. Examples of scanners that specialize in finding web application vulnerabilities are Netsparker Security Scanner and Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner.

A penetration test focuses on the environment as a whole. In many ways, it picks up where scanners leave off to provide a comprehensive analysis of the entire security posture. Although scripts and tools are used by a penetration tester, their use is largely limited to reconnaissance activities. The majority of a penetration test is manual in nature. A penetration test identifies vulnerabilities that scanners cannot detect, such as vulnerabilities in wireless systems, vulnerabilities in web applications, and vulnerabilities that have not yet been disclosed. In addition, a penetration test involves attempts to securely exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, and ultimately demonstrate how an attacker could gain access to sensitive information assets. Penetration testing also often involves the use of company-specific "test scenarios."

Penetration testing and automated vulnerability scans both serve a purpose, and both types of tests belong in a comprehensive vulnerability assessment program. Automated vulnerability scans should be performed at regular intervals, ideally at least weekly, while network penetration tests should be scheduled quarterly or when significant changes to the environment are planned.

Unlike penetration testing, vulnerability assessment does not determine in detail whether the vulnerability can actually be exploited or what impact it has. A vulnerability scan usually uses automated vulnerability scanners such as Nessus or even Nmap. Vulnerability scanners only cover standard scenarios and do not take into account the specifics of the IT infrastructure in question.

Vulnerability scans are therefore more of a first step in the technical analysis of vulnerabilities than a complete process for securing systems. They are also often used as part of a security audit or as one of the first steps in penetration testing. In all cases, penetration testing goes further and examines the discovered vulnerabilities in detail.

The pentester attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities and assess the resulting opportunities for the attacker. This helps determine the impact of a vulnerability. Due to the manual nature of a penetration test and the creativity of the pentester, the chances of finding serious vulnerabilities are much higher with professionally conducted penetration tests than with standardized vulnerability scans.

This can vary - depending on the type of pentest. However, the following points are often part of the scope or the mutually reached agreement:

- Target systems (IP/host name) or IP address spaces
- Test periods as well as contact persons

Cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google have provided blanket consent forms for certain areas, but this may vary by provider. In principle, one must be available if the systems to be tested are not on your own infrastructure. It is often useful to involve the system managers concerned in the planning process at an early stage so that the "pentest" is not perceived as an attack but as a potential analysis for improving IT security. To be honest, we are not interested in showing that we can hack a company, but to uncover potential for improvement in the IT landscape in a collaborative working atmosphere, deriving and prioritizing measures and improving IT security as effectively and efficiently as possible.