Before we review the comparison between internal penetration testing vs external penetration testing, let’s understand what penetration testing is.
Penetration testing is performed to check the security of a system, sometimes people confuse pen testing with a vulnerability assessment. Penetration testing is an unreal cyberattack that is performed to measure the system response and to understand the present security situation of systems. They are considered full-fledged attacks happening to measure the vulnerabilities. These attacks also help to face the real-time attack and get prepared to deal with those situations.
To execute a successful penetration test, there are four different types of penetration processes available:
- Scanning: Here we determine the System’s response when the attacker tries to break the security barriers, we have multiple tools to accomplish scanning processes.
- Gaining access: The gaining process is used to gather data for planning and scanning phases, to process unrealistic cyber-attacks to determine the efficiency of security
- Maintaining access: This process ensures that the system is continuously targeted to collect as much data as possible.
- Be hidden from the user: This is the ideal situation for any hacker/attacker, they are trying to remove the traces of activity they did to extract data/information.
Types of Penetration testing:
Social engineering penetration testing:
In this kind of testing the organization hire a penetration tester to attack its user to check the efficiency of their systems and the penetration tester is eligible to use phishing and different tricks of attack.
Physical penetration attacks:
The organization requests the penetration tester to validate the physical security of its systems.
Network penetration testing:
The organization tests its network environment’s robustness for detecting more vulnerabilities and threats.
Mobile application penetration testing:
This penetration test is highly essential nowadays, cause there is every organization uses mobile applications or IOS-based systems to transmit information/data so they have to secure mobile applications too.
Following is the comparison of internal penetration testing vs external penetration testing:
Internal penetration testing
Internal penetration testing or also known as Internal Infrastructure or Internal Network penetration testing. During the internal pen test exercise, Tests are performed on internal networks to determine whether an adversary is looking to increase their control and cause more damage by conducting attacks on the network from within.
In addition, it addresses security holes that could be exploited by a malicious insider, such as a disgruntled employee striving to cause harm to areas outside their sphere of influence. This type of test involves testing the on-site network with granted access and validating the infrastructure for the possibility of accessing sensitive information or privileged user accounts.
External penetration testing
An external pen test is also known as external perimeter testing. In this type of test, a hacker is simulated on a computer somewhere on the internet, while the test is run on their computer. The goal is to uncover vulnerabilities in your systems, software, and services that are accessible to the open internet, or your “Internet-facing” systems, in order to compromise or steal your data.
Internal penetration testing vs External penetration testing, a comparison:
Internal penetration testing:
- Internal penetration testing has fewer variables and options for testing.
- Internal penetration testing is done only when the attackers are present inside the network.
- Internal penetration testing, test the vulnerabilities, password, network configuration, and internal monitoring at once.
- Internal penetration testing demands cyber security engineers connect to the internal organization’s network.
External penetration testing:
- External penetration testing provides facilities for organizations to test in white, black, or grey box.
- External penetration testing is a combination of automated and manual testing.
- During external penetration processes, attackers try to gain access to the internal network.
- As part of an external network pen test, security controls around perimeters and internet-facing assets such as web, mail, and FTP servers are identified for weaknesses.
Which one do you need?
We hope that this blog has presented you with an overview of internal penetration testing vs external penetration testing. While penetration testing should be performed both internally and externally every year and whenever a critical change is made. A solid security posture can be maintained by doing this. Attackers may exploit new attack vectors if this frequency of testing is not maintained. It is critical to have a strong exterior defense, but it is as critical to maintaining a secure internal network. Malicious actors might get access to your internal network through disclosed vulnerabilities or social engineering efforts. A dissatisfied employee may acquire access to personal information and sell it on the dark web to launch a campaign against a company.
ASPIA is one of the leading cybersecurity consulting companies providing comprehensive security services. If you would like to avail of our penetration testing, security assessment and other comprehensive security services you can contact ASPIA Infotech and our team of security experts will connect with you. We will ensure the overall security of your organization and deliver risk and threat-free work environment that surely enhances your work experience and your credibility.
