By now, you have probably heard the saying that no website is ever 100% secure. While this is certainly true, it doesn’t mean that you should not take every measure possible to harden the security of your website. There are many proactive measures you can take, and one security mechanism you might want to consider is a preventative method known as penetration testing.
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing refers to the progressive analysis of a website and hosting server. Its purpose is to determine whether known and unknown vulnerabilities exist from instances such as software or hardware defects, configuration problems or other flaws while thoroughly evaluating the current efficiency of a security system. Penetration testing often mimics exploitative and malicious activity to identify which areas are the most susceptible to attacks as well as those that are adequately secured. To put it simple, the entire process involves various methods that are utilized in a manner as if a hacker would use to exploit the vulnerabilities of a website. Another important quality is that it helps a business access the losses they might face should a successful security breach occur.
How Penetration Testing Works
Network interfaces, APIs, user logins and other areas that accept values can become vulnerable due to the improper implementation of code or poor design. When penetration testing is conducted, inputs and other vulnerable areas can be identified and documented accordingly. In many cases, error messages and unwanted dialog windows are displayed to give indication of probable threats where data could be transferred to an external source. When this occurs, it becomes necessary for the administrator to access the vulnerabilities that could make such an exploit possible and come up with a way to successfully remove it from the system.
Penetration testing makes a viable tool for creating website security strategies that identify vulnerabilities, analyze the possible impact of exploitation and establish resolutions that can be used in accordance to the company budget. Not only can it help prevent security breaches, but also aid in preparing disaster recovery and business continuity strategies to ensure that your organization has the ability to bounce back quickly after a successful attack. The information obtained from a penetrating testing report can greatly reduce the likelihood of infection from malicious code, port scanning and other exploits that pose as a direct threat to your website.
Conclusion
In the end, penetration testing can go a long way in preventing the loss of data and revenues due to hacking and other unethical practices. With the ability to stop security threats in their tracks, companies can dramatically reduce the probability of fines, blemished credibility and all the other negative situations that can result from a successful exploit. Penetration testing is a process that should be performed on a regular basis to check for and access vulnerabilities. If you do not have the skill or authority, confer with your system administrator or web hosting provider to find out how this important mechanism can be incorporated into your security scheme.
