Everything You Need to Know About Internal Network Penetration Testing
Internal network penetration testing is an important topic for everyone who manages a company’s computer networks. This is a process that can help identify vulnerabilities in your systems and fix them before an attacker can exploit them. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what internal network penetration testing is, why it’s important, and how you can do it yourself. We’ll go through the advantages and disadvantages of internal network penetration testing so you can make an educated decision about whether or not it’s appropriate for your company.
Definition of Internal Network Penetration Testing
Internal network penetration testing is a technique of examining the security of a computer network by launching an attack from within. Also, This can be done by an external company or by internal staff, depending on the size and complexity of the network. The goal of INPT is to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker and to fix them before they can be used to compromise the system.
Why Is Internal Network Penetration Testing Important?
There are many reasons why internal network penetration testing is important. It is sometimes used to detect and repair system flaws before an attacker does. Second, it can help you assess the effectiveness of your security controls. Third, it can help you train your employees on how to respond to an attack. And fourth, it can help you improve your overall security posture. You may always start searching online for top penetration testing firms if your internal staff has no expertise conducting a pentest.
Characteristics of INPT
There are a few key features of INPT that make it an essential part of any security program. INPT may be customized to meet the needs of your company. Second, INPT is often less expensive than external penetration testing. Third, INPT can be conducted on-demand or on a schedule. And fourth, INPT can be conducted without disrupting business operations.
Tools For Doing Internal Network Penetration Testing
There are a few different tools that you can use for INPT. The first is a network security scanner, which aids in the detection of system vulnerabilities. However, The second is a penetration testing toolkit, which can help you conduct an attack simulation. Also, the third is a vulnerability management tool, which can help you track and fix vulnerabilities in your system.
Pros And Cons Of INPT
There are both pros and cons to INPT. On the plus side, internal network penetration testing might assist you in finding and fixing any security flaws in your system. On the con side, INPT can be disruptive to business operations and it can be costly.
Steps For Doing Internal Network Penetration Testing
Now that we’ve learned what internal network penetration testing is and why it’s crucial; let’s go through how to perform an effective test.
- First, you’ll need to identify the goals of the test.
- After that, you’ll need to choose the appropriate tools for the task.
- And finally, you’ll need to execute the test and analyze the results.
Let’s read more on these.
When you’re selecting tools for your internal network penetration test; it’s important to choose tools that specifically designed for this purpose. There are a few different types of tools that you can use, including network security scanners, penetration testing toolkits, and vulnerability management tools. Choosing the correct tool for your requirements is crucial since each of these tools has its own set of advantages and drawbacks.
Once you’ve selected the right tools, you’ll need to prepare your environment for the test. This includes setting up test accounts, installing the necessary software, and configuring the test environment.
After you’ve prepared your environment, you’re ready to execute the test. This involves running the tools against your system and collecting the results.
It’s time to look at the test’s results after its completed. This includes looking for any vulnerabilities that found, assessing the impact of each vulnerability, and determining whether or not it needs to be fixed.
Final Thoughts
By taking the time to understand what it is, why it’s important, and how to conduct an effective test, you can ensure that your organization is as secure as possible through the means of an internal network penetration test.
Author Bio-
Ankit Pahuja is the Marketing Lead & Evangelist at Astra Security. Ever since his adulthood (literally, he was 20 years old), he began finding vulnerabilities in websites & network infrastructures. Starting his professional career as a software engineer at one of the unicorns enables him in bringing “engineering in marketing” to reality. Working actively in the cybersecurity space for more than 2 years makes him the perfect T-shaped marketing professional. Ankit is an avid speaker in the security space and has delivered various talks in top companies; early-age startups, and online events.