The demand for cybersecurity is very high since Australia is a vital reservoir for technology companies. The severe impacts of cyber-attacks on Australian businesses have become higher. The reason for this is because Australia has a strong economy, and the companies are quick in adapting to the new technology. This development empowers cybercriminals to execute attacks and accomplish the wanted result, that is money. This is where penetration testing swoops in as a solution for cyber-attacks.

Almost all organizations and businesses handle sensitive details every day, starting from customer information to intellectual property. It is critical to keep your company details safe for the long-lasting feasibility of your business. Penetration testing is an effective and compelling way to keep these details secure. Penetration testing helps to protect your organization from security breaches and also prevents the leak of sensitive information from cyber-attacks by recognizing security vulnerabilities and providing solutions to face them.

Causes of vulnerabilities

1. Low system configuration

This flaw is one of the reasons for vulnerability. There is a way or loophole for the attackers to enter the system and take the information if one does not configure the system correctly.

2. Design and growth errors

There are possibilities of defects in the design or outline of the software and hardware. These defects can put the business data in danger of exposure.

3. Connectivity

If the system is linked to an insecure network, then the hackers can get to the information of company data.

4. Human errors

Human errors like improper discarding of documents, ignoring the unattended documents, insider risk, coding errors, and sharing of passwords to other sites can cause security breaches.

5. Passwords

The use of passwords is to prevent access from unauthorized sites. The passwords should be strong. They should not be discussed or shared with anyone and should be periodically changed. Writing it down somewhere, sharing it with others, or keeping easy passwords can be a more significant threat.

6. Complexity

The system complexity increases in proportion to the security vulnerabilities. If a system has more features, there are a lot of possibilities for an attack.

7. Management

Security is high-priced and challenging to manage. Vulnerability gets driven in the system if the organization is lacking in proper risk management.

Types of penetration testing

· Social engineering test

They attempt to check if a person discloses any information such as passwords or business data. They execute these types of tests by using the internet or phone. It targets only individual employees and procedures.

· Web application test

By employing software methods, it is helpful to see if the application is in threat of a security vulnerability.

· Physical penetration test

Strong security methods are employed to safeguard sensitive data. They check the physical network appliances and physical access points for the chances of a security breach.

· Client-side test

This test aims at searching and exploiting vulnerabilities in software programs from the client-side.

· Network services test

It is the most commonly executed penetration test. In this, they identify the gaps in the network. This entry is made on the network system to inspect what type of vulnerability is there. It can either be done regionally or remotely.

· Wireless security test

This method identifies the open, unapproved, and unsecured hotspots or Wi-Fi networks and links through them.