In an increasingly digitized world, information system security has become a priority for businesses. Penetration testing, or pentesting, is one of the most effective practices for assessing the resilience of an infrastructure against cyberattacks. But what exactly does a penetration test involve, and why is it indispensable?
A penetration test is a form of security audit that consists in attempting to attack a computer system (network, server, various equipment, etc.) or a web application, using the same tools as a real attacker.
It's a real test of an organization's security, carried out by qualified offensive cybersecurity experts, the main idea being to discover security flaws before they are exploited by cybercriminals.
Beyond simply detecting vulnerabilities, penetration testing aims to attempt to exploit them to assess the potential impact on the organization. This makes it possible to simulate real attack scenarios and measure the reaction capacity of security teams. It also enables more precise recommendations to be made for correcting identified vulnerabilities.
Carrying out a security audit is a crucial step in ensuring that your information system or web application is protected against potential vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks. Here's how we carry out this essential task:
To make our security audits as reliable and accurate as possible, We rely on industry standards, and in particular on OWASP recommendations and methodologies. We carry out numerous manual tests, and also use a number of specialized security tools to automate and deepen certain tasks.
We are looking for public information about you and the target.
This enables us to fully understand the target and its environment, and to check whether sensitive data about you is available on the Internet and/or the darknet.
We study in detail the operation of the target application or system and its environment. We precisely list the different functionalities and services available.
This enables us to see the whole picture, so that we can allocate our time efficiently.
This is where we will really look for vulnerabilities on the target application or system. We won't exploit them in depth, however, as we may run out of time to discover other vulnerabilities.
So we will identify as many as possible and exploit them in the next phase.
We are really going to exploit the vulnerabilities we discovered in the previous phase.
We will be able to assess the impact they may have, to be able to advise you as best we can. It may also enable us to discover other vulnerabilities.
There are generally three approaches, each with its own advantages and disadvantages
In the interests of transparency and efficiency, it's vital to understand how the results of your safety audit are structured and communicated. Here's a detailed overview of what's included in the safety audit report, and how we present it to you and support you through the next steps.
We offer you a discovery audit for 349 € HT.
The cost of a pentest depends on several factors, such as the complexity and size of the system to be tested, the type of pentest (black box, white box, grey box), and the duration and depth of the test. We offer customized quotes after assessing your specific needs to provide you with an accurate estimate, but the average budget is between €1,500 and €4,500 excluding VAT.
Test methods are chosen according to the customer's specific objectives, the environment to be tested and the most relevant threat types. We use a combination of automated and manual testing, including black box, white box and grey box techniques.
The result of a pentest is a detailed report that includes the vulnerabilities discovered, an assessment of their severity, and recommendations for their mitigation. This report helps organizations understand their security posture and take corrective action.
Yes, whatever the size of your business, you are likely to be the target of cyber attacks. A pentest can reveal unexpected vulnerabilities in your security system and help you correct them before they can be exploited by attackers. This can not only protect your critical assets and data, but also boost your customers' confidence in your ability to protect their information.
You can justify the cost of a pentest by highlighting the return on investment in terms of preventing financial losses due to data breaches, protecting corporate reputation and regulatory compliance. A pentest can also be seen as insurance against the much higher costs associated with a successful cyber attack, including fines, legal damages, and loss of customer confidence.
The duration of a pentest can vary according to the complexity of the system under test, the scope of the objectives and the methods used. In general, a pentest can last from a few days to several weeks, with an average of around three days.
All organizations that depend on information technology for their operations can benefit from cybersecurity and pentesting services. This includes businesses of all sizes, governments, financial institutions, healthcare facilities, and more.
To prepare for a pentest, make sure all stakeholders are informed of the exercise, clearly define the scope of the test, back up your important data and provide the pentest team with the necessary access.
We recommend carrying out a pentest at least once a year, or whenever you make significant changes to your IT system. This may include adding new applications, modifying your network infrastructure or following a merger/acquisition.
The results of a pentest are usually communicated in the form of a detailed report that includes an overview of the vulnerabilities identified, an impact analysis, and recommendations for mitigation. We also offer a debriefing session, usually by videoconference, to discuss the results, clarify any questions and help plan next steps to improve your security.
Do you have any questions or would you like to request a pentest? Please do not hesitate to contact us.