What are the best ways to prepare for a penetration test?

Learn Basics: Understand how computers talk, basic security, and common tech stuff. Use Tools: Get comfy with tools like Wireshark and Nmap—practice in safe places. Hands-On Practice: Play in labs or challenges to get real experience. Certifications: Consider getting certificates like CEH or OSCP to show you know your stuff. Network: Chat with other pros online to learn more and get tips. Stay Updated: Keep learning about new tech and security threats. Know the Rules: Learn what's legal and right in penetration testing. Talk Clearly: Practice explaining tech stuff so anyone can understand. Teamwork: Work on talking and working well with others. Be Good: Always do your hacking ethically and professional

When the focus is only on compliance, the scope of the penetration test is usually limited. Stakeholders aim to minimize the findings and prioritize obtaining a clean scan rather than identifying issues. I would talk to key stakeholders as soon as the scope and objectives are being discussed, as they have important information about the right tools, access, consent, and people involved.

#P1: To prepare for a penetration test, follow these key steps: 1. Define clear objectives and scope for the test 🎯. 2. Notify relevant stakeholders about the upcoming test 📢. 3. Document all systems and assets to be tested 📋. 4. Prioritize critical assets for focused testing ⚡. 5. Conduct a vulnerability assessment and address known issues 🔍. 6. Review and update security policies 📜. 7. Hire skilled and reputable penetration testers 💼. 8. Establish clear rules of engagement for the test 🤝. 9. Provide testers with necessary information about your environment ℹ️.

#P2: 10. Have an incident response plan in place 🚨. 11. Backup critical systems and data before the test 💾. 12. Monitor and communicate regularly with the testing team 🗣️. 13. Review and prioritize remediation based on test findings 📊. 14. Educate staff about the penetration testing process 🧑💻. 15. Use findings as a basis for continuous security improvement 🔄.

The selection of tools is only relevant if the tests are performed by an internal team. Otherwise, it's up to the firm contracted to perform the test to choose the right tools. From my perspective, gray box and black box testing aren't very useful for system owners. The concept of "I want to see what you can find" might be an interesting exercise. However, the person doing the test is limited by time and expertise, which isn't necessarily the case for criminals. Assume the worst: they will find the systems, the accounts, the vulnerabilities. With that perspective, share all relevant information with the person/team performing the tests, so they can focus on finding weaknesses.

I don't agree with this section: If you need to focus on backups and securing the system before conducting a penetration test, you have more important tasks to finish. Also, segmenting or isolating a system before a pentest means the environment doesn't represent the context in which it is used. If you're not testing a production system, then the alternate system should match the production environment; otherwise, you can miss critical vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

Preparing for a penetration test involves several key steps: Understand Goals and Objectives Documentation Review Risk Assessment Permission and Communication Backup and Contingency Plans Prepare the Testing Environment Engage Skilled Testers Testing Tools and Resources Post-Test Action Plan Cyber security- By following these steps, you can ensure a thorough and effective penetration test that helps uncover vulnerabilities and improve the overall security posture of your systems.

The report will most likely list a number of vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that should be corrected. The scope and objectives of the test should include remediation.