Cybersecurity in the modern world is like taking an exam. You study, you prepare, and you hope you pass. For your small business, that exam can be a penetration test (pentest) – a simulated cyberattack that identifies vulnerabilities in your systems and defenses. But unlike high school chemistry, failing this test can have real-world consequences: data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.

So, how can your small business ace the pentest and boost your cybersecurity posture?

In this blog post, we will share some best practices and tips on how to get the most out of your pentest. Sadly, we cannot help with high school chemistry.

How to Prepare for a Pentest

Before you hire a pentest provider, you need to do some prep work to ensure a smooth and effective pentest. Thankfully, it doesn’t include an all-nighter. Sadly, it doesn’t include a late-night order of pizza.

Pentest Prep Steps:

Define your goals and scope.

What are the objectives of the penetration test? What systems, networks, or applications do you want to test? How deep and comprehensive do you want the pentest to be? How much time and budget do you have for the pentest? These questions will help you determine the type and scope of the pentest, as well as the expectations and deliverables.

Choose a penetration test provider.

When outsourcing your penetration testing, make sure you find a reputable and qualified pentest provider. Look for pentest providers that have relevant certifications, experience, and references. You should also check their pentest methodology, tools, and reporting standards. Make sure you sign a contract and a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the pentest provider to protect your data and interests.

Communicate with your stakeholders.

You need to inform and involve your internal and external stakeholders in the penetration testing process. Stakeholders include management, IT staff, legal team, and third-party vendors. You should communicate the goals, scope, timeline, and expected outcomes of the pentest, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder. You should also get their consent and cooperation for the pentest, especially if the pentest involves sensitive or critical systems or data.

Backup your data and systems.

Penetration testing can be disruptive and potentially damaging to your IT environment, especially if the pentest is intrusive or aggressive. Therefore, you should backup your data and systems before the pentest and have a contingency plan in case something goes wrong. You should isolate or disable any systems or functions that are not within the scope of the pentest, or that could interfere with the pentest results.

What to Expect from a Pentest

Once you have prepared for the penetration test, you can start the pentest process with your pentest provider or team. The pentest process typically consists of four phases.

Typical Penetration Test Phases

Planning.

In this phase, you and your pentest provider review and finalize the goals, scope, methodology, and timeline of the pentest. You will agree on the rules of engagement, such as the level of access, the attack vectors, the escalation procedures, and the communication channels.

Execution.

In this phase, the penetration testing provider or team will perform the pentest according to the agreed upon plan. They will use various tools and techniques to scan, probe, and attack your IT systems, networks, or applications, and try to find and exploit vulnerabilities. They will also document and record their findings and actions.

Reporting.

In this phase, the pentest provider analyzes and summarizes their findings and actions in a pentest report. The pentest report should include the following information:

• An executive summary that highlights the main findings, risks, and recommendations
• A technical summary that details the methodology, tools, and results of the penetration test
• A list of vulnerabilities, ranked by severity and impact, with evidence and screenshots
• A list of recommendations, with remediation steps and best practices
• A list of limitations, assumptions, and caveats of the penetration test

Remediation.

 In this phase, you and your IT staff will review the penetration test report and implement the recommendations. You should prioritize the most critical and urgent vulnerabilities and fix them as soon as possible. You should also verify and validate the remediation actions and document the changes and improvements. You may also request a retest or a follow-up pentest to confirm that the vulnerabilities have been resolved.

Conclusion

Penetration testing is a valuable and essential practice for small businesses to improve their cybersecurity and compliance. However, pentesting requires proper preparation and execution to ensure its effectiveness and success. By following best practices, you can prepare for a penetration test and expect a positive outcome. If you need help with pentesting or other cybersecurity services, please contact us today. We are a trusted and experienced pentest provider that can help you secure your IT environment and achieve your business goals.