The Ultimate Guide To Penetration Testing
Cyber security in today's world
Could your business survive a targeted cyber-attack? With cybercriminals becoming smarter and attacks growing more devastating, no organisation is immune. In 2024, global cybercrime costs are estimated to reach $9.5 trillion, and that figure is expected to soar to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. The cost of a single data breach is staggering, with an average loss of $4.45 million per breach, not to mention the damage to customer trust and the operational downtime that follows.
In this hostile environment, penetration testing—also known as ethical hacking—has become a crucial strategy for uncovering vulnerabilities before they’re exploited. Simulating real-world cyber threats, penetration testing goes beyond traditional defences, giving businesses the insights needed to strengthen their cyber security posture.
In this guide, we’ll dive into:
- What is Penetration Testing?
- The different types of penetration tests, and which is right for your business.
- How does Penetration Testing work?
- The Importance of regular penetration testing
- Key benefits of Penetration Testing
- The Missing Link's unique approach to Penetration Testing
- How to get started with Penetration Testing
As a trusted cyber security partner with over 27 years of experience, has helped countless organisations overcome their cyber security challenges by delivering tailored penetration testing solutions. In this guide, we’ll show you how taking proactive steps today can safeguard your business for the future. Is your business ready?
What is Penetration Testing?
The evolving cyber threat landscape
The rise of digital transformation has brought unprecedented efficiency to businesses, but it has also increased their vulnerability to cyber-attacks. A 38% surge in cyber-attacks in 2022, including ransomware and supply chain breaches, highlights the growing need for rigorous cyber threat mitigation. With the shift to remote work and cloud-based services, these risks have grown exponentially. IBM’s 2023 report revealed the average cost of a data breach has climbed to $4.45 million, further amplifying the urgency for businesses to bolster their defences. Traditional security measures like firewalls are no longer enough. Businesses need proactive strategies, such as penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, to detect and address vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
Unlike passive approaches, ethical hacking goes a step further—testing your defences by simulating what a real-world attacker would do, providing deep insights into potential threats. Penetration testing can be conducted on a computer system, in addition to networks and web applications, helping organisations identify weak spots and fortify their systems against the ever-evolving threat landscape.
What exactly is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing simulates cyber-attacks on a business'’s systems to expose weaknesses that attackers could exploit. Unlike automated vulnerability scanning, which identifies potential risks, penetration testing attempts to exploit them to gain access to sensitive information or secure systems, providing a deeper understanding of how these weaknesses can be used against the business. This hands-on approach helps organisations strengthen their defences against real-world threats.
Penetration testing has become a cornerstone of modern cyber security strategies. The Missing Link, with its reputation for delivering tailored penetration testing services, is trusted across industries to identify and document vulnerabilities. As one of Australia’s only CVE Numbering Authorities, our testing services are powered by a deep understanding of both current and emerging threats.
Case study: How Kennards Hire strengthened their cyber security
This case exemplifies the value of proactive cyber security efforts in protecting business-critical systems and ensuring long-term resilience in a dynamic threat landscape.
Penetration Testing Vs Vulnerability Assessments
While both vulnerability assessments and penetration testing are critical, they serve different functions. Vulnerability assessments are automated scans that identify known vulnerabilities, providing a surface-level view of potential risks. Penetration testing dives deeper, actively exploiting those vulnerabilities to assess their real-world impact. Both methods work in tandem to offer a comprehensive view of a company’s security posture.
At The Missing Link, we integrate both methods into our cyber security plans, ensuring businesses have visibility into both surface-level and deeper risks. This approach allows businesses to make informed decisions on how to strengthen their defences.
Why businesses need Penetration Testing
In 2024 alone, 527 Australian businesses were breached, highlighting the urgency for robust cyber defences. Small businesses, often seen as easier targets, face 43% of these attacks, while larger enterprises face heightened risks due to their extensive digital assets. Penetration testing is essential for identifying vulnerabilities and staying ahead of the evolving cyber threats.
Regardless of size, regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning can mitigate the risk of costly breaches. By simulating real-world attacks, businesses can proactively strengthen their defences and uncover hidden vulnerabilities.
Different types of businesses face unique challenges when it comes to cyber security:
- Small businesses: With limited resources, they are attractive targets for attackers. Penetration testing helps uncover vulnerabilities before they result in financial damage.
- Medium-sized businesses: As they grow, so do their security risks. Regular testing is vital to protect increasingly complex IT environments.
- Large enterprises: Regular testing is often required for regulatory compliance, particularly in industries like finance and healthcare, and helps secure large, multi-location networks while safeguarding customer trust.
Different types of Penetration Testing
Understanding the main types of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. A Pen Test, or penetration testing, is designed to identify specific vulnerabilities across various systems, networks, and even the physical infrastructure of an organisation. These tests simulate real-world attacks and provide invaluable insights into how well a business can defend itself. Given the diversity in today's cyber threat landscape, businesses must adopt a tailored approach to penetration testing that reflects their unique infrastructure and risk profile.
By customising penetration tests—whether focusing on networks, web applications, wireless systems, or even social engineering tactics—businesses can ensure that every facet of their security posture is examined.
Network Penetration Testing
Network penetration testing is critical for assessing the security of both internal and external network infrastructures. Cybercriminals often target network weaknesses to gain unauthorised access, disrupt services, or steal sensitive data. External network testing focuses on public-facing components such as firewalls, servers, and routers, while internal network testing evaluates what would happen if a hacker breached the network or if an insider attempted to escalate privileges.
- External network testing: Cyber-attacks frequently exploit misconfigurations, weak passwords, or outdated software in external-facing systems. One major weakness often uncovered is poorly configured firewalls that fail to block unauthorised traffic. According to a 2019 Gartner Report, 99% of firewall breaches are caused by misconfigurations, not vulnerabilities.
- Internal network testing: Internal testing reveals how an attacker might move laterally within a network once access is obtained. Common vulnerabilities include weak segmentation of networks and inadequate privilege management, which can allow attackers to compromise multiple systems once they are inside the network.
Network penetration testing reveals these weaknesses, providing businesses with actionable insights to improve their network security.
The Missing Link’s penetration testing engineers are adept at finding weaknesses in both external and internal network environments. By identifying vulnerabilities in network configurations, they help businesses secure sensitive assets before attackers can exploit them.
Web Application Penetration Testing
Web applications are increasingly the target of cybercriminals because they often handle sensitive data, such as customer payment details or personal information. Web application penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities specific to web-based systems, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure authentication. The selection of penetration testing tools can greatly influence the outcomes of a penetration test.
- SQL Injection: One of the most dangerous web application vulnerabilities, SQL injection allows attackers to manipulate backend databases, leading to data theft, alteration, or even full system compromise.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages, potentially leading to data theft or unauthorised access to user sessions. A report by OWASP highlighted that XSS vulnerabilities account for 18% of total web application security issues.
A robust web application penetration test simulates these attacks to assess how well the application stands up to such threats. The Missing Link employs advanced testing tools such as OWASP ZAP to ensure thorough coverage of web application vulnerabilities. By simulating real-world attacks on a client’s web apps, we help businesses mitigate risks before they result in costly breaches.
Wireless Penetration Testing
As businesses increasingly rely on wireless networks for operations, they also introduce new vulnerabilities. Wireless penetration testing examines the security of Wi-Fi networks, identifying weaknesses in areas like encryption, access point placement, and network segmentation.
Common Vulnerabilities: Attackers can exploit weak encryption protocols, like WEP, or outdated security standards such as WPA2, to gain unauthorised access to corporate networks. Once inside, they can intercept communications, access sensitive data, or launch further attacks on other networked devices.
The Missing Link conducts wireless site surveys, using tools that analyse the security configuration of wireless networks. These surveys ensure that businesses are protected against wireless threats, particularly in industries handling sensitive data, like finance and healthcare.
Social engineering and human vulnerabilities
While technological defences are crucial, the human element remains one of the weakest links in any security chain. Social engineering penetration testing simulates cyber-criminal tactics that target employees to breach protected systems and access sensitive information. Social engineering attacks, such as phishing, trick employees into revealing sensitive information or providing unauthorised access. According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of organisations experienced phishing attempts, with over 90% of successful breaches involving some form of social engineering.
Penetration testers simulate phishing attacks, both via email and phone, to test how well employees recognise and respond to social engineering attempts. These tests help businesses identify weaknesses in employee training and awareness.
The Missing Link integrates phishing simulations into its penetration testing services, helping clients improve their human firewall. By identifying employees susceptible to phishing attacks, businesses can take proactive steps to improve their security culture.
Physical Penetration Testing
Cyber security doesn’t stop at digital defences—physical security is just as critical, particularly for organisations handling sensitive data or critical infrastructure. Physical penetration testing simulates real-world scenarios where attackers attempt to breach physical security measures, such as gaining unauthorised access to restricted areas, tailgating, or bypassing security controls.
This type of testing reveals vulnerabilities in access control, surveillance systems, and physical safeguards, ensuring that physical defences are robust enough to protect data and systems.
For businesses operating in regulated industries, such as finance or government, The Missing Link’s physical penetration tests offer an extra layer of security, ensuring that both digital and physical infrastructures are secure.
Cloud Native Security and Penetration Testing
In today’s digital landscape, cloud native security has become a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies. As businesses increasingly migrate their operations to the cloud, ensuring the security of cloud-based systems, applications, and data is paramount. This is where penetration testing comes into play, offering a robust method to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in cloud environments.
Cloud native security penetration testing involves simulating attacks on cloud-based systems to uncover weaknesses that could be exploited by cybercriminals. This type of testing is crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of cloud-based applications and infrastructure.
Penetration testing for cloud native security can be applied to various components, including:
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Cloud-based applications: Ensuring that applications hosted in the cloud are secure from threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
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Cloud-based infrastructure: Assessing the security of virtual machines, containers, and other infrastructure components.
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Cloud-based data storage: Protecting data stored in cloud databases and storage services from unauthorized access and breaches.
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Cloud-based networks: Evaluating the security of network configurations and communication channels within the cloud environment.
The benefits of cloud native security penetration testing are manifold:
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Identification of vulnerabilities: Uncovering weaknesses in cloud-based systems before they can be exploited.
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Remediation of security risks: Providing actionable insights to address and fix identified vulnerabilities.
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Ensuring data security: Protecting sensitive data from breaches and unauthorized access.
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Compliance: Meeting cloud security regulations and standards to avoid legal and financial repercussions.
By integrating cloud native security penetration testing into their cybersecurity strategy, businesses can ensure their cloud environments are resilient against evolving threats.
How Does Penetration Testing Work?
The Penetration Testing process explained
Penetration testing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different tests target specific vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and even physical infrastructure. These tests simulate real-world attacks, offering invaluable insights into how well a business can defend itself against cyber threats.
Penetration testing involves several key phases
- Reconnaissance: Testers gather intelligence to identify weak points, such as open ports or software vulnerabilities.
- Scanning: Testers map the network and detect vulnerabilities to identify potential entry points.
- Exploitation: Ethical hackers exploit identified vulnerabilities using methods like SQL injection or bypassing authentication.
- Post-Exploitation: Testers simulate what an attacker might do once inside the system, including lateral movement or privilege escalation.
- Reporting: A detailed penetration test report outlines the vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and steps for remediation.
Each of these phases provides businesses with a realistic view of their security posture, enabling them to prioritise fixes and reduce risks.
1. Planning and reconnaissance
In this foundational phase, the penetration testing team collaborates with your team to define the scope of the test and identify potential vulnerabilities. Reconnaissance involves both passive (without direct engagement) and active (direct interaction with the system) information gathering. Key objectives include identifying weak points such as open ports, outdated software, or exposed services.
- Passive reconnaissance: Testers collect publicly available data—such as domain registrations or employee information—using tools like WHOIS and Google Dorking to identify exploitable information.
- Active reconnaissance: Testers directly interact with the target system by probing network devices and open ports, gathering detailed security posture data.
The Missing Link’s experience in this phase ensures all potential weak points are identified, laying a solid foundation for the next stages of the test.
2. Scanning and identifying entry points
After reconnaissance, testers move into scanning, where they use various tools and techniques to identify potential entry points into the system. This phase helps map the network and highlights security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
Common tools include:
- Nmap: A network mapping tool used to discover open ports, services running on those ports, and potential vulnerabilities in network configurations.
- Nessus: A vulnerability scanner that compares system configurations against known security flaws.
- OpenVAS: An open-source tool that identifies misconfigurations and network weaknesses.
The goal of this phase is to create a comprehensive picture of the network and highlight any obvious weaknesses that could be targeted in an attack. By mapping out potential entry points, testers can focus their exploitation efforts on the most vulnerable areas.
At The Missing Link, our penetration testers use a blend of automated tools and manual analysis to ensure no potential entry point is missed, giving businesses a comprehensive understanding of their network's exposure.
3. Exploitation: How Penetration Testers simulate attacks
Once vulnerabilities are identified, testers attempt to exploit them to demonstrate what an attacker could achieve. This phase reveals the real-world impact of a breach, such as gaining access to sensitive data or taking control of critical systems.
The security team collaborates with penetration testers to address identified vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses.
As shown in the flowchart below, attackers typically progress through stages like initial breach, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and ultimately, data control or system access.
Exploitation path: How attackers move through systems
During exploitation, testers use real-world attack techniques to exploit the identified vulnerabilities. These could include:
- SQL Injection: A common attack that targets web applications by injecting malicious SQL queries into input fields, allowing the attacker to access or manipulate the backend database.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): An attack that allows malicious scripts to be injected into trusted websites, potentially compromising user data or sessions.
- Privilege Escalation: Once inside the system, attackers often seek to escalate their privileges, gaining access to more sensitive areas of the network.
4. Post-Exploitation: What happens after a vulnerability is exploited?
In the post-exploitation phase, testers simulate how far an attacker could move within the system once access is gained. Testers simulate common hacker behaviours like persistence and lateral movement, which involve staying undetected and accessing higher-privileged areas of the network.
- Persistence: Attackers use techniques like installing backdoors or creating new accounts to maintain access even after vulnerabilities are patched.
- Lateral movement: Once inside, attackers navigate through the network to compromise additional systems.
- Privilege escalation: Attackers may attempt to gain administrator-level privileges to access restricted areas or data. This is often done by exploiting vulnerabilities in software or misconfigured security settings.
At The Missing Link, our testers simulate these post-exploitation techniques to help businesses understand the full scope of a potential attack. This gives clients insight into not just how an attack could happen, but what the attacker might achieve once inside.
5. Reporting: Turning findings into actionable insights
The final phase is reporting, where all findings are documented and prioritised. Vulnerabilities are assigned severity ratings (e.g., critical, high, medium, low), enabling businesses to prioritise their remediation efforts.
The report includes:
- A detailed explanation of each vulnerability.
- The potential impact if the vulnerability is left unaddressed.
- Actionable recommendations, such as patching, reconfiguration, or implementing new security controls.
At The Missing Link, we go beyond identifying vulnerabilities by providing strategic insights and working closely with clients to help them implement an action plan for improving their security posture.
The importance of regular Penetration Testing
Why regular testing is essential
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, making one-time security checks inadequate. Regular penetration testing, combined with vulnerability scanning, ensures businesses stay ahead of attackers by continuously identifying new vulnerabilities. By simulating potential attacks through ethical hacking, businesses can refine their security posture and reduce risk.
The risks of one-time testing
A single penetration test provides only a snapshot of a business’s security at a given moment. As cyber threats evolve, and businesses introduce new systems or updates, new vulnerabilities can emerge that were not present during the initial test. Relying on outdated results leaves businesses blind to the current threat landscape.
In 2023, over 20,000 new vulnerabilities were reported in the CVE database, highlighting the rapid pace at which new threats appear. Without regular testing, organisations risk being unprepared for these evolving challenges.
The Missing Link's penetration testing services are designed to adapt to this changing landscape. By offering continuous testing schedules tailored to a business’s needs, we help keep security defences up to date and effective against emerging threats.
How often should you test?
The frequency of penetration testing depends on several factors, including business size, industry, and how often systems are updated. General guidelines include:
1. Small businesses: Small businesses often have fewer IT assets but are still highly targeted by cybercriminals due to their perceived weaker defences. For these businesses, annual testing is sufficient unless significant changes to IT infrastructure occur.
2. Medium-sized businesses: As businesses grow, so does their digital infrastructure. With the introduction of more users, devices, and applications, bi-annual or quarterly testing is recommended to ensure new components are secure.
3. Large enterprises: Enterprises operating in sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail need to maintain the highest levels of security. For these businesses, quarterly or even monthly testing may be required to ensure new components are secure.
4. Post-major updates: Any significant changes to the IT environment, such as new software or cloud migrations, should be followed by immediate penetration testing to check for new vulnerabilities.
The Missing Link offers flexible testing schedules to suit any organisation, ensuring your security is always up to date and capable of addressing the latest threats.
Case Study: How MedHealth enhanced cyber security with Penetration Testing
MedHealth, a healthcare provider with over 2,000 employees, partnered with The Missing Link after rapid growth through acquisitions introduced security risks. They faced challenges in unifying their security approach across diverse systems. The Missing Link conducted a comprehensive review and developed a two-year roadmap that included regular penetration testing, firewall upgrades, and endpoint compliance. These measures improved daily operations, safeguarded sensitive healthcare data, and led to ISO27001 certification. Ongoing security enhancements ensure MedHealth’s long-term resilience and compliance.
Aligning Penetration Testing with security frameworks
In Australia, businesses must comply with various security frameworks and standards, and regular penetration testing is essential for assessing the effectiveness of their security measures. Key frameworks include:
- ISO 27001: This global standard for information security management mandates regular penetration testing as part of its continuous improvement cycle to ensure an organisation’s security systems remain effective.
- PCI DSS: Australian businesses handling payment card data are required to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This standard mandates regular penetration testing to secure systems that process payment information and ensure data protection.
- ASD Essential Eight: The Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight outlines key strategies to reduce cyber risk. Regular penetration testing helps organisations assess their maturity against this framework and strengthen defences against threats like ransomware.
The Missing Link’s penetration testing services help businesses align with these frameworks, improving security while demonstrating compliance with Australian standards.
Penetration Testing as a compliance requirement
Penetration testing isn’t just a best practice—it is a legal requirement for many Australian industries. Financial services providers must comply with regulations such as APRA CPS 234, whichmandates regular security testing to safeguard sensitive data.
Similarly, healthcare providers must adhere to Australian Privacy Principles (APP) to protect patient information.
At The Missing Link, we specialise in penetration testing that ensures organisations meet their compliance obligations while securing critical systems and data.
Key Benefits of Penetration Testing
How Penetration Testing strengthens your cyber defences
Penetration testing is a proactive method for uncovering vulnerabilities in your IT systems before attackers can exploit them. By simulating real-world attacks, it goes beyond traditional security measures, identifying gaps in detection, response, and compliance to bolster your overall security posture.
1. Identifying unknown vulnerabilities
Even well-protected systems can have hidden vulnerabilities. Regular penetration testing helps uncover and address these weaknesses before they are exploited.
2. Preventing costly breaches and downtime
Cyber-attacks can lead to significant financial losses and operational disruption. Early detection of vulnerabilities through penetration testing helps prevent breaches and downtime. According to Accenture’s 2022 Cybercrime Study, the average cost of cybercrime per organisation has risen to $13 million—a 72% increase over five years. Businesses with regular penetration testing experience 48% less downtime following a security incident.
3. Improving incident response
Penetration testing also enhances incident response capabilities by revealing gaps in your organisation’s ability to detect and respond to threats. This insight improves response plans and ensures your teams can act swiftly during an attack. The Missing Link’s services include post-incident analysis to help businesses strengthen their response strategies.
4. Enhancing security maturity
Regular testing is crucial for advancing a company’s security maturity. The ASD Essential Eight framework highlights the importance of continuous testing to measure and improve the effectiveness of security controls, helping businesses become more resilient to evolving threats.
ROI of Penetration Testing
Investing in penetration testing offers a significant return on investment (ROI) by helping organisations identify and remediate security risks, thereby protecting sensitive data and applications. The ROI of penetration testing can be measured through various metrics, highlighting its financial and operational benefits.
Cost savings: Penetration testing helps organisations avoid the substantial costs associated with security breaches and data losses. By identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, businesses can prevent incidents that could lead to financial losses, legal penalties, and damage to reputation.
Compliance: Regular penetration testing ensures that organizations comply with security regulations and standards, avoiding fines and legal issues. Compliance with frameworks like PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and others is often mandatory, and penetration testing is a key component of meeting these requirements.
Risk reduction: Penetration testing helps organisations reduce security risks by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities. This proactive approach minimises the likelihood of successful cyber-attacks, protecting sensitive data and maintaining business continuity.
Improved security posture: By regularly conducting penetration tests, organizations can continuously improve their security posture. This ongoing process helps businesses stay ahead of emerging threats and ensures that their security measures are effective and up to date.
The ROI of penetration testing can be calculated using various metrics, including:
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Cost of security breaches: Estimating the potential financial impact of a breach and comparing it to the cost of penetration testing.
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Cost of data losses: Assessing the value of sensitive data and the potential losses from a breach.
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Cost of compliance: Evaluating the expenses associated with meeting regulatory requirements and the savings from avoiding fines.
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Cost of risk reduction: Measuring the reduction in risk and the associated financial benefits.
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Cost of improved security posture: Calculating the long-term benefits of a stronger security posture, including reduced downtime and enhanced reputation.
By understanding and leveraging the ROI of penetration testing, organisations can make informed decisions about their cybersecurity investments and ensure the protection of their sensitive data and applications.
The Missing Link's unique approach to Penetration Testing
Why choose The Missing Link for Penetration Testing?
The Missing Link offers tailored penetration testing solutions to uncover and address vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. As one of the only Australian companies with CVE Numbering Authority (CNA) status—and the only penetration testing firm among them—we provide unmatched expertise to every engagement. Our certified experts—holding qualifications like OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), OSWE (Offensive Security Web Expert), and CISSP—make us one of Australia's most skilled penetration testing teams.
Certified expertise and industry leadership
Our penetration testing is conducted by CREST-approved teams, adhering to the highest ethical and technical standards. We leverage both manual and automated testing techniques to simulate real-world attacks and uncover vulnerabilities, ensuring that your organisation’s security is continuously improved. Our global security leadership, including the discovery of zero-day vulnerabilities, further distinguishes us in the field.
A comprehensive, tailored approach
Recognising that every organisation’s security needs are different, we customise every penetration test to fit your infrastructure and risk profile. Our multi-phase process includes:
Red Team expertise and Offensive Security
Our Red Team conducts advanced simulated attacks, going beyond traditional penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in your cyber landscape. Recognised for outstanding performance in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions like CrikeyCon and BSides, our Red Team excels at uncovering vulnerabilities that typical tests might miss. By attending top-tier conferences such as Defcon and Blackhat, we remain at the forefront of offensive security.
Manual Penetration Testing for deeper insights
Unlike automated tools, which may miss critical issues, The Missing Link emphasises the importance of manual penetration testing. Our experts can identify complex vulnerabilities that automated tools often overlook, such as chained exploits, business logic flaws, and advanced attack vectors. By tailoring each test to your organisation's unique environment, we deliver deeper, more actionable insights to strengthen your security posture.
Additional cyber security services to strengthen defences
Penetration testing is just one part of our comprehensive security solutions. The Missing Link also provides:
- Incident response: Assisting businesses in quickly responding to breaches and improving future security measures.
- Managed Security Services: 24/7 threat detection and monitoring via our SmartSOC, ensuring systems remain secure.
How to get started with Penetration Testing
Steps to take for a comprehensive test
Getting started with penetration testing can seem complex, but with a structured approach, it becomes straightforward. Whether you're new to penetration testing or looking to enhance existing security measures, follow these key steps for an effective test.
1. Assess your current security posture
Understand your current vulnerabilities. Conduct a self-assessment or engage a professional security partner like The Missing Link. Our initial consultation helps identify your critical assets and pinpoint high-risk areas, laying the groundwork for a well-targeted penetration test.
2. Define the scope of testing
Once your security posture is clear, the next step is to define which systems, applications, networks, and assets to test. The scope is prioritised based on risk levels, business importance, and compliance needs. We work closely with you to ensure the test focuses on the most critical areas.
3. Build a continuous testing schedule
Once your security posture is clear, the next step is to define which systems, applications, networks, and assets to test. The scope is prioritised based on risk levels, business importance, and compliance needs. We work closely with you to ensure the test focuses on the most critical areas.
The Missing Link’s process
At The Missing Link, we pride ourselves on our structured and tailored approach to penetration testing. Here’s how we work to safeguard your organisation:
1. Consultation: We start with an in-depth consultation to assess your current security posture. This allows us to understand your unique needs, ensuring the penetration test is tailored to address your most critical risks.
2. Scope definition: Next, we work together to define the scope of the test, focusing on high-risk areas—whether external web applications, internal networks, or other infrastructure. Our goal is to ensure the test delivers actionable insights into the most vulnerable areas.
3. Testing phase: Our CREST-certified team, including Offensive Security Certified Professionals (OSCP) and Offensive Security Web Experts (OSWE), conducts the testing using a combination of manual and automated techniques. We simulate real-world cyber-attacks to uncover vulnerabilities across your systems.
4. Reporting and remediation: After the test, we provide a detailed report that outlines the vulnerabilities discovered, their potential impact, and prioritised remediation steps. We make sure you understand what was found and what needs to be addressed to mitigate risks.
5. Post-test support: We don’t just stop at reporting. Our team stays engaged, helping you implement fixes and providing ongoing support to strengthen your defences. Effective security is an ongoing process, and we ensure your security posture evolves with the latest threats.
Ongoing protection with The Missing Link
Our process is designed to provide continuous, proactive protection. Whether it’s quarterly testing for regulated industries or annual testing for smaller businesses, The Missing Link offers flexible options tailored to your needs. By following our proven methodology, you can safeguard your organisation against ever-evolving cyber threats.
How to Select a Penetration Testing Provider
Choosing the right penetration testing provider is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness of your cybersecurity efforts. A qualified provider should have the necessary expertise, experience, and tools to perform comprehensive penetration testing.
When selecting a penetration testing provider, consider the following factors:
Expertise: The provider should have a deep understanding of penetration testing methodologies and techniques. Look for providers with certified professionals, such as Offensive Security Certified Professionals (OSCP) and Offensive Security Web Experts (OSWE).
Qualifications: Ensure the provider holds relevant certifications and accreditations, such as CREST approval, which indicates adherence to high ethical and technical standards.
Experience: The provider should have a proven track record of performing penetration tests on various types of systems and applications. Ask for case studies or references to gauge their experience.
Methodology: A well-defined methodology is essential for effective penetration testing. The provider should outline their approach, including planning, reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting phases.
Tools: The provider should use a combination of automated and manual testing tools to ensure comprehensive coverage. Tools like Nmap, Nessus, and OWASP ZAP are commonly used in penetration testing.
Reporting: Detailed and comprehensive reporting is crucial for understanding the findings and taking corrective actions. The provider should offer clear, actionable recommendations and support for remediation.
When evaluating potential providers, consider asking the following questions:
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What is the provider’s experience in performing penetration testing?
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What is the provider’s methodology for performing penetration testing?
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What tools and equipment does the provider use to perform penetration testing?
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What is the provider’s reporting process?
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What is the provider’s pricing and payment structure?
By carefully considering these factors and asking the right questions, organizations can select a penetration testing provider that meets their needs and provides the necessary expertise and experience to perform effective penetration testing. This ensures that your systems and applications are thoroughly tested and secure against potential threats.
Securing your future: The lasting impact of Penetration Testing
In the face of rising cybercrime, a reactive stance won’t cut it anymore. Cybercriminals are becoming more advanced, targeting vulnerabilities faster than most organisations can respond. Penetration testing puts your defences to the test, exposing hidden weaknesses before they can be targeted. By simulating real-world attacks, it uncovers critical gaps, allowing you to strengthen your defences swiftly and effectively, reducing the risk of costly breaches and operational disruption.
As the complexity of threats continues to grow, basic security measures alone won’t suffice. Regular penetration testing ensures your defences remain up to date, helping your business stay ahead of emerging risks. To counter cybercriminals' innovation, your security measures must continuously evolve.
The Missing Link is your trusted partner in this process, delivering industry-leading penetration testing services tailored to your specific needs. With a team of certified professionals and accreditations like CREST, alongside our unique status as Australia’s only CVE Numbering Authority, we don’t just identify vulnerabilities—we provide actionable insights and ongoing support to continuously improve your security posture.
By choosing The Missing Link, you gain more than just a service provider—you gain a dedicated partner committed to safeguarding your business from cyber threats, now and in the future. Our comprehensive approach, from initial assessment to post-test support, ensures your defences remain resilient in an ever-changing threat landscape.
Ready to protect your business from cyber threats?
Schedule a consultation with The Missing Link today and get started with a comprehensive penetration test.
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The Missing Link