Ransomware attacks and data breaches are making headlines. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct thorough security audits when managing client data.

This article will describe the steps security professionals must take to conduct a successful penetration or PEN test.
What is a PEN Test? – Complete Penetration Testing Guide
A PEN test, or penetration test, identifies attack vectors and vulnerabilities in IT infrastructure, networks and business applications. PEN testing involves simulated attacks on an organization’s information security system using a variety of manual and automated procedures. A PEN test, in simple terms, is a process that identifies vulnerabilities and digs into them to determine how a target can be compromised in case of a real Cyberattack.
The penetration testing process involves actively inspecting the target system for potential vulnerabilities. This includes known and unknown software or hardware faults, bad or incorrect system configurations, operational flaws in technical countermeasures, and operational flaws. While penetration testing is designed to exploit known vulnerabilities it should also use the tester’s knowledge to identify weaknesses in security measures within an organization.
What is the PEN test?
A penetration test will detect and fix architectural flaws before hackers can exploit them. This could result in a loss of business or service interruption. Businesses must follow a variety rules and procedures. A penetration test will ensure that any gaps are identified quickly to meet regulatory requirements.
Penetration tests can also be used to check the security of the company’s internal security team. It is possible to determine the impact of an actual attack, the damage that can be done and the cost to the company if it occurs.
It’s becoming increasingly important to conduct regular penetration testing to protect information systems against security breaches, given the number of cyber-attacks that are large and dangerous.
What are the methods and approaches of the PEN Test?
Here are the different methods of the PEN Test.
White box PEN test : This pen-testing technique gives the Pen Tester complete information about the IT infrastructure, source codes, and environment. This pen test is more thorough and comprehensive and examines every aspect of the application, including the code quality and basic design. Pen-testing of this nature usually takes between two and three weeks. Clear box pen testing, internal pen-testing and glass box pen testing all use a white box pen test.
Grey box PEN test – The Pen Tester receives limited information about the IT infrastructure and code structure. This is a more targeted method as the Pen Tester has limited access to or knowledge of the IT infrastructure or online application. This allows them to focus their efforts on exploiting potential vulnerabilities and saving time and money. It could be described as an External Hacker who gains unauthorized access to the organization’s network infrastructure documentation.
Black box PEN test: This Pen Tester does not have any knowledge of the organization’s IT architecture. This procedure is more like a simulation of a real cyber-attack to identify system weaknesses. The Pen Testers are cyber-attackers and attempt to exploit system weaknesses. This procedure can take up to six weeks to complete and takes a lot of time. The black-box pen test can also be called an external pen test.
External PEN Test: This is when the pen is tested externally.