PlexTrac ConceptsNetwork Penetration Testing

Network penetration testing is a proactive security practice where pentesters simulate real-world cyberattacks on a network to uncover potential vulnerabilities. Network penetration tests help pinpoint security gaps across networks, systems, hosts, routers, servers, and firewalls. These pentests may be performed through manual pentesting or automated pentesting.

Network penetration testing provides organizations with insights into potential security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Through early discovery, organizations can reassess their security gaps and mitigate risks.

Network pentesting benefits security teams by helping them: 

• Identify security gaps within an organization’s network
• Discover vulnerabilities before exploitation
• Tweak security policies and deploy patches quickly
• Uncover potential attack paths and ways a threat actor can gain access

Network penetration testing works through this typical process:

1. Discovery & Scanning: Scope out the network for potential vulnerabilities and gather information around IP addresses, open ports, services, and applications. This can be done through vulnerability scans.
2. Enumeration & Analysis: Run further analysis to identify potential weaknesses in a network such as misconfigurations and outdated software. 
3. Detection & Exploitation: Actively search and detect security gaps and exploit them to gain access to the network using malicious actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
4. Post-exploitation: Once access is gained, attempt to maintain control within the network by moving laterally and escalating privileges to gain further access.
5. Reporting & Read-Out: Document findings, including the severity of vulnerabilities, potential impacts, and detailed recommendations for remediation. 

Common attack vectors to test for with network penetration testing include: 

• Phishing attacks: A threat actor tactic using email or messages to trick an employee, partner, or someone else with network access into revealing information that gives the attacker access privileges.
• Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks: A DDoS attack typically uses a botnet that attempts to overwhelm a network with useless traffic so its system resources cannot react efficiently, often leading to a crash. 
• Man in the middle (MitM) attacks: A man in the middle attack is where a hacker interrupts and inserts themselves in communications between a client and a server to gain access to the network server.

Aggregate network penetration testing data from both manual and automated testing in PlexTrac. PlexTrac integrates with popular vulnerability scanners and automated pentesting tools and services to bring all your data into a central location to streamline reporting, prioritize risk, and expedite remediation.  

PlexTrac is the #1 platform for automating security reporting with AI, aggregating pentest and vulnerability data from various tools and scanners, and effectively prioritizing risk.

Request your demo today to learn more.

AI in Cybersecurity
Automated Pentesting
Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS)
CTEM (Continuous Threat Exposure Management)
Exposure Management
Ethical Hacking
Manual Pentesting
Proactive Security
Penetration Testing As a Service
Red Teaming
Ransomware
Vulnerability Management
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

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