Preparing for an Upcoming Penetration Test
An upcoming penetration test can stress any organization. Whether your company undergoes annual assessments or faces its first one, ensuring everything is in order is crucial. This article will guide you through preparing for your upcoming penetration test.
Determining Scope
Several factors influence your assessment’s scope. Consider these elements, not in any particular order:
- Your organization’s budget — The number of assets you want tested and desired security assessments can increase the engagement’s overall cost. Prioritize applications or services at highest risk from attackers.
- Overall objectives/goals — The reason behind the assessment, be it compliance, a recent security incident, or identifying security enhancement areas, will aid you in determining what systems to include.
- Critical systems/infrastructure — While many fear testing critical systems might cause downtime or disruptions, such incidents are rare. Nevertheless, it is important to address these concerns during the kickoff call.
Preparing for the Kickoff Call
Lucid Security always sets up a kickoff call with our clients, where you’ll discuss the assessment with the engineers who will actively conduct the assessment. Use this opportunity to ask any questions, aiming to resolve potential queries during this call. With that in mind, Lucid Security attempts to address any potential questions before they arise.
One Week Before the Test
Ensure to send all testing information to the security team a week before the test. The security engineers will then confirm the scope’s accuracy, check credentials, and look for connectivity issues to prevent schedule delays. It is important to make the most out of the allotted testing period to ensure the security team identifies any potential security issues.
How Lucid Security Can Help
By now, your organization should be well-prepared for the upcoming penetration test. If you have any questions, Lucid Security is ready to assist. Contact us today!
