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How to Test Your Network Security

When it comes to protecting your sensitive business data, it’s much better to be safe rather than sorry. You can prevent cyberattacks with a solid network security strategy. It’s likely your business already has one of these in place. However, if you haven’t tested yours, you can’t be completely confident that it’s all it’s cracked up to be.

A resounding “50% of SMBs reported suffering at least one cyberattack in the last year.” Yikes. Chances are, some of them thought that their network was secure and discovered otherwise the hard way. If you don’t want to be one of those businesses, it’s important to regularly test your network’s security.

How?

Identify Potential Risks

The first step in identifying potential network security risks is performing a vulnerability assessment. This type of evaluation will identify, define, and prioritize the susceptibilities in your company’s communication infrastructures, networks, server, computers, and devices. These kinds of tests also have the ability to predict the effectiveness of proposed security measures.

The assessment will identify open ports, IP addresses in use, operating systems, and software that could be open to potential risks. It will then compare what it finds on your network against its own database of known vulnerabilities. Once the scan is complete, you will receive a report detailing the kinds of risks it discovered, ranked in order from high priority to low priority.

However, not all vulnerability scanners are equal. There are both free and paid versions, with the latter typically offering a more robust examination. Whichever kind you choose, be sure that the test targets your network from within and any public facing elements it has. That way, both your internal and external risks are revealed.

Exploit Those Risks

After you know what your potential risks are, the next step is to exploit those risks. While vulnerability tests will help identify what potential dangers there are, it’s imperative to understand how much of a liability your network’s vulnerabilities present. Especially in a world where “a direct cyberattack can cost businesses as much as $40,000 per hour.”

Penetration testing, also called “pen testing”, helps you exploit your network’s risks to determine how damaging they can be.These tests simulate a malicious attack on your network to determine if your cybersecurity defenses are functioning as they should.

Pen testers use security loopholes and weaknesses to hack into your network and gain access to your company’s sensitive information. Thus, those who perform pen testing are called “white hat hackers.” After performing the test, they will report back with how effective your current security measures are in protecting your network.

Working with a company that also offers cybersecurity solutions will allow you to take these findings and immediately start creating a strategy to better secure your organization.

Get Started

To avoid compromising your sensitive data, get in the habit of regularly testing your network’s protection. Getting an expert involved will help ensure that you have all of your security bases covered.

At PRO Oncall, we’re skilled in both penetration testing and creating customized strategies to further safeguard business networks. We would be happy to discuss how we can help your company in this area. Contact us today if you are interested in taking the next steps to secure your network.