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Being ISO 27001 certified is great. Knowing that your information system is truly resistant to attack is even better. Pentesting makes all the difference.
What is a pentest and what are its objectives? How can this method be an asset in your ISO 27001 certification process? We tell you all about it! 👇
A pentest, intrusion test or penetration test, is a method of analyzing a target by putting oneself in the shoes of a hacker. The target may be an IP, an application, a connected object, a web server or an entire network. The vulnerability of the system is tested by detecting flaws that could be exploited by cyber-attackers.
The pentest is therefore a snapshot at time T of the predefined target.
It can be carried out automatically by software applications or manually by pentesters. It can be performed externally (external pentest), from any Internet connection, or internally (internal pentest) on the company network.
It's a method that will give you the key information you need to improve your cybersecurity!
Pentesting is not the same as a security audit. The audit will enable us to establish an overview of the security of an information system or configuration. It is based on meeting the requirements of reference systems, and on the application of best practices. Pentesting, on the other hand, is much more offensive. It is carried out once minimum security practices have been put in place.
It is therefore not necessary to carry out a pentest if the system is not up to date. The pentest will enable you to anticipate scenarios and adjust your security policy accordingly.
Pentests are a proof strategy for customers and management. They enable us to go further in the search for vulnerabilities. Here we find a different, much more "offensive" vision of security.
The objectives of a pentest are clear:
It's not just a matter of drawing up a list of vulnerabilities, but of formalizing an action plan to correct these vulnerabilities, taking into account their exploitability. We can qualify the various risks, as well as the complexity of the corrections, and prioritize these actions. Hence the importance of the quality of the test report and the associated advice!
A pentest is not an end in itself. It is part of an overall approach to optimizing the security of your information system. That's why we recommend that you carry out a pentest when you're working towards ISO 27001 certification!
In Annex A of ISO 27001:2013, it is stated that, "Information about the technical vulnerabilities of the information systems in use shall be obtained in a timely manner, the organization's exposure to these vulnerabilities shall be assessed, and appropriate measures shall be taken to address the associated risk."
Intrusion testing fully meets these requirements, providing a list of vulnerabilities and an analysis of corrective actions to be taken via a simulated malicious attack. You provide proof that your solution is secure, or that you have taken into account the risks inherent in this IT asset and are taking corrective action.
See our guide to ISO 27001 for more information on the requirements of the standard.
As it stands, pentesting is not mandatory. However, if you have complex systems, non-standard architectures, or web applications you've created. Penetration testing is essential.
Traditional analysis tools may be insufficient to detect certain vulnerabilities, such as access control flaws, impersonation attacks or other atypical vulnerabilities specific to specific features.
An important aspect of pentesting is defining the scope of intervention. Depending on the strategy adopted, the results will differ. Should a test be carried out internally or externally? Under what conditions will the pentest be carried out?
Pentests must be carried out throughout your system's lifecycle. IT assets have technical vulnerabilities that need to be constantly monitored and improved. With the evolution of technology, cyber hackers can regularly find ways to break a security measure that is considered inviolable!
It is therefore essential to carry out regular penetration tests on assets that fall within the scope of your risk assessment.
Pentests complement a good vulnerability vulnerability management and updating and updating strategy.
Are you convinced of the importance of performing a pentest to strengthen your company's IT security, but don't know how to choose the right pentest provider? Here are our tips for selecting a reliable, standards-compliant cybersecurity expert.
An effective pentest is more than just a list of vulnerabilities. It must include a concrete action plan, a precise qualification of the risks and a prioritization of the corrections to be made. Make sure that the pentest report provided is detailed, comprehensible and adapted to your company's reality.
To guarantee the quality of your service, choose a pentest provider whose teams are trained in ethical hacking, who applies the PASSI (Prestataire d'Audit de la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information) standard, and who complies with ANSSI (Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information) requirements.
Finally, a key point: always demand a contract and a confidentiality agreement before launching a penetration test. If the service provider offers no contractual or confidentiality commitments, it's best to look for another IT security professional.
At FeelAgile, we make it a point of honor to comply with the various standards with "ethical hacking", ensuring you all the confidentiality and security you need.
We determine the scope of our intervention with the customer according to their objectives and challenges, particularly in the context of their ISO 27001 certification process. We then draw up a plan for implementing the pentests best suited to our customer's needs.
Over a period of several days, a team will be dedicated to carrying out the penetration tests, noting down every manipulation performed. Following these days of testing, a detailed report is submitted to the customer, enablingvulnerabilities to be examined,the severity of threats to be assessed, anda remediationplan to be drawn up.
Debriefing and advisory meetings will be organized with you to help you take action and implement the proposed corrective measures. This offer is part of a comprehensive approach to optimizing the security of your company's assets.
At FeelAgile, we're convinced that there's absolutely no question of putting our teams of slotters in competition with the company's team. It's not a question of judging the value of the work already done by the company, but rather ofestablishing avenues for improvement through an objective assessment of your information system.
By building a relationship based onexchange and trust, we will be able to offer you constructive suggestions for improving your safety policy. This will be achieved through an effective action plan that takes into account your company's operational reality and business risks.
For more information, please contact us!
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