Continuous Penetration Testing Made Simple

Penetration testing, also known as pentesting, involves ethical hackers simulating a controlled attack on systems to assess vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This process can be executed through two distinct approaches: manual and automated or continuous penetration testing.

Quick deployment of products and services is essential for companies to remain competitive today, and continuous penetration testing is one of the key tools in a security practitioner’s armamentarium. By leveraging human-delivered and continuous or on-demand penetration testing, companies can speed up their security assessment to quickly deploy new products swiftly and securely.

What is Continuous Penetration Testing?

Continuous penetration testing can be an ongoing automation deployed on demand at a frequency that meets your business objectives. It also involves simulating real-world attacks on a system, network, or application to identify security weaknesses and potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited, but it is a continuous process that is ongoing until it is terminated.

Penetration testers, also known as ethical hackers, will attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the same way an attacker would, with the goal of identifying these critical entry points before a breach occurs.

Continuous Penetration Testing Techniques

Continuous penetration testing is dependent upon the defined scope and targets and can include different techniques such as White Box, Black Box, or Gray Box testing. Here are the differences between the three:

1. White Box – Continuous penetration testing conducted with no prior knowledge about the targets.
   • Pros: Fast and user-centric, focused on speed and testing from a real user’s perspective. Unbiased – Pentesters aren’t influenced by the system’s internal design.
   • Cons: Limited scope – May miss internal logic issues.
2. Black Box – Continuous penetration testing conducted with partial knowledge about the targets based on scope.
   • Pros: Comprehensive – Provides thorough testing with high code coverage. Efficient debugging – Pentesters can pinpoint the root cause of bugs more easily.
   • Cons: Slower and knowledge-dependent, requiring a deep understanding of the system, which often can be time-consuming.
3. Gray Box – Continuous penetration testing conducted with complete knowledge about the targets, including internal and external system architecture.
   • Pros: Balanced – Offers a middle ground between speed and effectiveness. Flexible – Adapts to the level of access and knowledge available.
   • Cons: Assumption bias – May tend to be biased due to knowledge and information about systems being tested vs. Black or White Box tests.

Penetration Testing Techniques

Pentesting, by its nature, offers a snapshot of your security posture at a specific point in time. It analyzes the vulnerabilities present in your systems and applications at the moment of testing. Pentesting techniques include:

• Manual – Uses human ethical hackers to perform penetration testing services.
• Continuous – Penetration testing using automation whereby it is ongoing and the frequency of testing can be scheduled on-demand.
• Hybrid – A combination of both human-delivered and continuous penetration testing for the most comprehensive coverage.

Most providers should be able to provide a hybrid approach to penetration testing with a platform that delivers real-time results and analytics, the ability to see the progress for each asset, and retesting made available if needed.

Vulnerability Scanning

Often, continuous penetration testing is confused with vulnerability scanning. Continuous pentesting and vulnerability scanning are both important components of a robust cybersecurity strategy, but they serve different purposes and employ different methodologies.

Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to thoroughly examine networks, systems, and applications for known security issues, misconfigurations, updates, and weaknesses. This process typically involves comparing system configurations and software versions to known vulnerabilities and identifying common misconfigurations that could lead to security risks.

Although both continuous penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are important, they serve distinct roles and purposes and are most effective when used together to provide a holistic approach to security testing and monitoring.

Key Differences

Here are some key differences between the two:

• Manual vs. Automated: Penetration testing involves manual testing conducted by skilled professionals, while vulnerability scanning is largely automated, relying on specialized tools to identify vulnerabilities.
• Simulation vs. Detection: Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities actively, whereas vulnerability scanning primarily focuses on detecting known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
• Depth of Analysis: Penetration testing often involves a deeper analysis of vulnerabilities, including potential exploitation scenarios, whereas vulnerability scanning may provide less detailed information about the nature and severity of identified vulnerabilities.
• Frequency: Penetration testing is typically performed on a continuous or periodic basis to proactively identify and address security weaknesses, while vulnerability scanning can be conducted more frequently and at scale to ensure ongoing visibility into the security posture of systems and networks.

Why Continuous Penetration Testing Is Important

Continuous penetration testing has become increasingly popular and is often chosen alongside or in lieu of vulnerability scanning for several reasons:

• Speed and Efficiency: Automated tools can swiftly analyze extensive networks and intricate systems, enabling large enterprises to quickly spot and address vulnerabilities.
• Consistency: Continuous penetration testing offers a standardized approach across different assessments, reducing human error and variability.
• Scalability: These tools can handle large enterprises with growing infrastructure complexity without an increase in staffing.
• Retesting: Penetration retesting is automated and can be performed on-demand, allowing for ongoing security assessments.
• Exploitation Frameworks: Continuous penetration testing utilizes exploitation frameworks to automate the detection and exploitation of vulnerabilities.
• Report Generation: Detailed reports are automatically generated, offering key insights for security practitioners to make informed security decisions.

FAQ

Q: Can continuous penetration testing adapt to our evolving IT environment?

A: Absolutely. Continuous penetration testing is adaptable and scalable, ensuring that your security assessments remain relevant and effective as your organization evolves.

Q: Is continuous penetration testing suitable for businesses of all sizes?

A: Yes, it is scalable and can adapt to IT environments of all sizes, from small start-ups to large enterprises.

Q: How does continuous penetration testing support compliance and regulatory needs?

A: Continuous penetration testing supports compliance by offering structured security evaluations and detailed reports that help meet regulatory requirements.

About BreachLock

BreachLock is a global leader in Continuous Attack Surface Discovery and Penetration Testing. Continuously discover, prioritize, and mitigate exposures with evidence-backed Attack Surface Management, Penetration Testing, and Red Teaming. Elevate your defense strategy with an attacker’s view that goes beyond common vulnerabilities and exposures. Each risk we uncover is backed by validated evidence. Contact BreachLock today to know your risk and mitigate your next cyber breach before it occurs.

Author

Ann Chesbrough