How a Pentest Works: The Phases of a System Penetration Test

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The structured Pentest process involves a series of phases ranging from planning to executing controlled attacks to identify vulnerabilities.

Check out how they work in practice:


Identification and planning
At the beginning of a Pentest, the peru email list identification and planning phase is essential to establish the scope and objectives of the test. This includes defining which systems will be tested and which methods will be used, which are fundamental to effective planning.


Information collection
Intelligence gathering is the step that precedes the actual attacks. It involves intensive reconnaissance , looking for public data that can help identify entry points into the system. Vulnerability scanning tools can be used to automate part of this process.


Vulnerability detection
This is the phase that involves the use of tools and techniques to find flaws that can be exploited. Thus, it is the stage that makes it possible to create a map of the security flaws existing in the system under test.


Vulnerability exploitation
During the vulnerability exploitation phase, experts attempt to exploit the flaws found in the previous stage. Vulnerabilities such as SQL injection are tested, and if the exploit is successful, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to the system.


Data Analysis and Reporting
After the exploitation attempts, data analysis and reporting begins, compiling the results and elaborating details on the vulnerabilities discovered. Communication is key, so the report needs to be clear and objective, providing recommendations for mitigating the identified risks.


What are the post-Pentest recommendations? What to do?
After performing a Pentest, some measures are essential to ensure that the company's information security is reinforced. Check out the recommendations:

Detailed analysis of the report: it is essential that the IT team meticulously analyzes the results presented, understanding the vulnerabilities discovered;

Prioritizing vulnerabilities: Not all weaknesses have the same level of risk. It is necessary to prioritize remediation based on the potential damage each one can cause;

Weakness management: Keeping a record of vulnerabilities and continuously monitoring them allows the organization to proactively manage weaknesses;

Remediation plan: an action plan should be drawn up to remedy the identified failures. Actions may include software and configuration updates;

Employee training: after the Pentest, it is necessary to educate the team on the best security practices that will be adopted;

Verification tests: After implementing the corrections, it is recommended to run new tests to ensure that the measures were effective.

Security policy review: If necessary, review and update internal security policies to prevent future vulnerabilities.

In this way, it is possible to strengthen the business security posture against cyber attacks, ensuring that the flaws found in the Pentest are adequately managed and corrected .