Testing Network Services

• It means checking how well the services are running on a network.
• Common ways to test include: Port Scanning, Banner Grabbing, Vulnerability Scanning, etc.
• Why test a network?
• Networks interact with many devices and software, which increases the risk of vulnerabilities
• Weak points can exist in: Servers, Firewalls and Routers, Modems and physical connection ports, Operating systems, Outdated software and patches.
• Cyber attacks can exploit these vulnerabilities to access and harm business systems.
• Testing network security can:
  • Protect the sensitive data of employees and customers.
  • Prevents disruption to business operations.
  • Maintains the organization’s reputation and customer trust.
  • Reduces risks of financial loss and legal issues.
• Purpose of Network testing:
• It is to simulate how an attacker can gain access to the network.
• It aims to reveal any potential vulnerabilities that can be used as an entry point.
• It will make the security stronger in specific areas and implement targeted measures.
• Process of network test:
• Planning:
  • Discuss on what methods can be used in the test and how the results will be measured.
  • The aspect depends on the scope and goals of the test.
  • Ethical hackers will also identify the critical areas of the network that could contain vulnerabilities.
• Probing:
  • The ethical hackers then start using testing solutions to examine how the network responds to cyberattacks.
  • It allows them to understand how various parts of the network communicate with different types of responses.
  • As a result, an ethical hacker knows how to operate in a way that an attacker can use to bypass any automated defences.
• Mock attacks:
  • With proper network research, an ethical hacker will simulate a range of attacks.
  • It can include any of the types of network threats already discussed.
  • If the vulnerability is found, they will take actions to exploit the weakness, such as attempting to disrupt the traffic, increase privilege and steal data.
  • Tester can then measure the vulnerability by how much theoretical damage it would be able to inflict.
• Analyzing the results:
  • The test ends after the tester is confident that there is any more information that can be exploited about the network’s security.
  • Testing reports contain the details of the vulnerability found, details of recommended remedial action and the timeframe for solving any network problems.
• Different types of network testing:
• White box testing:
  • Testers have the intimate knowledge of the network and it has been made.
• Black box testing:
  • The tester does not have prior knowledge of the organisation’s network or system.
  • This method is the most effective at simulating the effects of an actual cyber attack.
• Grey box testing:
  • it is the combination of both white and black box testing.
  • The ethical hacker is given a select amount of information about the network.
  • They are better for assessing the risk that privileged users pose to the business.

✔ Learning Tip

Use tools like Wireshark to observe network traffic. Seeing how data moves across a network builds strong intuition.