Thu, Jun 20, 2024
Automated Penetration Testing: An Overview
Automated penetration testing, or automated pen testing, is a type of security assessment that uses specialist tools to uncover vulnerabilities. Although it can serve as part of a cohesive security strategy, it also presents some challenges. In this article, we outline the pros and cons of automated pen testing and compare it with manual pen testing.
What is Automated Penetration Testing?
Automated pen testing is a form of security assessment that uses integrated pen testing tools to detect vulnerabilities within a system’s security architecture. A result of the evolution of machine learning, it is more advanced than vulnerability scanning, in which computer networks are examined to identify security weaknesses.
Automated penetration testing enables the swift detection of known software flaws like a server with missing security patches or a device with unintended exposure to the internet. The process uses tools also used by pen testers as part of manual pen testing, resources that are sometimes referred to as automated pen testing tools.
Automated pen testing is central to cybersecurity validation, a continuous approach of refining an organization’s security optimization priorities through controlled simulation, response validation and process enhancement.
Key Automated Pen Testing Functions
Automated penetration testing helps enhance cyber defenses by performing a wide range of functions, including:
- Scanning for known vulnerabilities in software and applications
- Validation for identifying which assets to prioritize for remediation activity
- Configuration audits to check systems against security best practices and identify misconfigurations
- Testing segmentation and internal firewalls to reduce the attack surface between network segments
- Web application scanning to find common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Finding Active Directory vulnerabilities to test for a range of misconfigurations within an organization’s AD, such as anonymous enumeration and shadow administrators
- Network scanning to identify open ports and potentially vulnerable associated services
- Credential testing to assess the strength of passwords and identify weak credentials that could be vulnerable to exploitation
- Ensuring IoT device security to maintain system integrity and reduce the risks of unauthorized access to networks, business systems and data
Automated Pen Testing In Action
Automated pen testing can play a key role for a wide range of businesses, including:
Small And Medium-Sized Businesses
Small businesses and startups with limited security budgets can quickly and affordably enhance security through automated pen testing. However, it is likely that these organizations would also benefit longer term from manual pen testing.
Software And Web Development Companies
Automated pen testing benefits companies that specialize in software and web development because it enables highly efficient scanning for issues, reducing the risk of the release of insecure software. This may be supported by continuous pen testing.
Businesses With Manual Pen Testing Programs
Automated pen testing can work well for organizations that already have fixed or ad hoc pen testing programs in place. Penetration testers and red teams can gain additional insights to support their processes, as well as free them up to focus on more specific tasks.
Automated Pen Testing Benefits
Automated pen testing offers some key advantages to organizations, including:
Fast Testing
Swift identification Of Vulnerabilities
Better Scalability
Reduced Human Error
Continuous Monitoring
Reduced Resource Burden
A Consistent Security Baseline
Despite these benefits, automated pen testing comes with some significant limitations, particularly in comparison with manual pen testing.
Automated Pen Testing vs. Manual Pen Testing
Automated pen testing harnesses tools to quickly search for flaws, while the manual penetration testing process involves human-led planning, execution and analysis. However, because automated pen testing involves less human input, it is much faster and less costly than manual pen testing.
Automated pen testing is highly efficient, enabling businesses to gain helpful security insights at a relatively low cost. In contrast, manual pen testing typically provides a more in-depth overview of an organization’s security infrastructure. Manual testing is also capable of identifying complex vulnerabilities and exposures that may be missed by automated testing. Because it is human-led, manual pen testing ensures greater creativity, with testers able to follow their instincts to test in a specific direction, depending on what they find.
Compatibility can also be a frequent challenge. Buyers should ensure their systems and software are compatible with automated penetration tools.
Challenges with Reporting
The reports resulting from the pen test process should be a key consideration when choosing a vendor. A pen testing report should deliver valuable insight into a company’s cyber defenses, along with the next steps required to mitigate any issues identified. Reporting can also help accelerate regulatory compliance.
Although automated outputs are generated during an automated pen test, they usually only provide limited insight into threats and ease of exploitation. As a result, the input of an experienced security specialist is vital. The use of automated pen testing can help to reduce costs, but without the right level of technical insight this can be a false economy.
Beyond Automated Pen Testing
It is more effective to see automated pen testing and manual pen testing as related security practices rather than separate types of assessments. Effective pen testing demands a combination of both approaches with automated pen testing tools supporting and enhancing the human-driven process undertaken by ethical hackers. Organizations should also be vigilant about the risks of using automated pen testing on its own. Although it can be a valuable resource, it is not capable of providing the level of insight demanded in a climate of constantly changing cyber threats. Overall, incorporating automated pen testing tools and using the pen testing assessments and reports delivered by experienced ethical hackers can deliver greater security gains.
To achieve a truly comprehensive level of security, companies should consider the full range of available assessments. Other types of penetration testing solutions include:
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Network Infrastructure Testing
Helps usinesses identify exposures across on-premises and cloud environments -
Cloud Penetration Testing
Uncovers and mitigates vulnerabilities that could leave critical assets exposed -
Web Application Security Testing
Assesses the security of proprietary and third-party web applications in line with OWASP Top 10 risks -
Mobile Security Testing
Helps identify and address vulnerabilities that could lead to assets and data being compromised -
API Penetration Testing
Searches for vulnerabilities in how APIs are designed, implemented and configured to prevent attackers from using them to gain a foothold in a network
What to Look For in a Pen Testing Provider
While it is important to understand the different types of penetration tests available, a key first step is to carefully assess potential pen test providers. This will help you select the one most able to meet all of your organization’s requirements.
A good pen test provider will be able to give up-to-date guidance on the test, methodology and scope that will align most effectively with your requirements. Verify that your prospective provider has the security expertise and capacity to detect many different vulnerabilities and advise on the most effective way to remediate them.
Look for a flexible provider that understands the regulatory landscape. The provider should be able to customize testing to align with the unique risk profile of your business and meet the requirements of the latest pen testing standards.
Penetration testing should be a core aspect of your security program and should be undertaken as regularly as possible to stay up to date with the constantly changing threat landscape. The right choice of pen test provider will ensure your organization achieves that securely, efficiently and within budget.
Choosing a penetration testing as a service (PTaaS) partner––one that invests in offensive security and employs hackers specializing in a wide range of penetration testing types––can help significantly reduce security risks while offering the added benefit of providing ongoing support and advice.
Maximize Your Pen Testing ROI With Kroll
Kroll’s Cyber Risk team has the knowledge and experience required to handle the most complex, large-scale pen testing engagements. Our testing services have been used by some of the world’s largest companies in a wide range of industries, including media and entertainment and critical infrastructure.
The insights gained from responding to thousands of cyber incidents every year give us a unique pen testing advantage, providing our certified cyber experts with the necessary information to ensure our tests address the most current methods that attackers use in the real world.
As a CREST-certified company, Kroll performs testing to the highest technical, legal and ethical standards. All our award-winning pen test services include complete post-test care, actionable outputs, prioritized remediation guidance and strategic security advice to help you make immediate and long-term improvements to your cybersecurity posture. Our sophisticated approach can be scaled and adapted to meet the unique needs of any organization.
To learn more about how to achieve the best results from penetration testing and how our services can support your security needs, schedule a quick, obligation-free call with our experts.
Cyber Risk
Incident response, digital forensics, breach notification, managed detection services, penetration testing, cyber assessments and advisory.
Threat Exposure and Validation
Proactively identify your highest-risk exposures and address key gaps in your security posture. As the No. 1 Incident Response provider, Kroll leverages frontline intelligence from 3000+ IR cases a year with adversary intel from deep and dark web sources to discover unknown exposures and validate defenses.
Cloud Penetration Testing Services
Kroll’s team of certified cloud pen testers uncover vulnerabilities in your cloud environment and apps before they can be compromised by threat actors.
Agile Penetration Testing Program
Integrated into your software development lifecycle (SDLC), Kroll’s agile penetration testing program is designed to help teams address security risks in real time and on budget.
API Penetration Testing Services
Kroll’s certified pen testers find vulnerabilities in your APIs that scanners simply can’t identify. Protect your business and keep sensitive data secure by leveraging our knowledge and experience in testing modern API infrastructures.
Penetration Testing Services
Validate your cyber defenses against real-world threats. Kroll’s world-class penetration testing services bring together front-line threat intelligence, thousands of hours of cyber security assessments completed each year and a team of certified cyber experts — the foundation for our sophisticated and scalable approach.
Cyber Threat Intelligence
Threat intelligence are fueled by frontline incident response intel and elite analysts to effectively hunt and respond to threats.
Incident Response and Litigation Support
Kroll’s elite security leaders deliver rapid responses for over 3,000 incidents per year and have the resources and expertise to support the entire incident lifecycle.
