Our testing utilizes modern tools such as Burp Suite for web application security testing, nmap for network scanning, sqlmap for database exploitation, and other advanced tools like Metasploit, Wireshark, and Nessus. Our goal is to identify security flaws, assess risk levels, and provide actionable remediation recommendations to enhance your organization's security posture.
Step 1: Customer Inquiry
The journey begins when the customer contacts the Passeca company. This can be through email, phone, or an online form, inquiring about penetration testing services.
Step 2: Initial Consultation
A representative from the security company (often a sales or security consultant) sets up an initial consultation with the customer. The purpose of this meeting is to understand the customer's needs, such as:
- Scope of the test (e.g., web application, network, infrastructure, mobile app)
- Business objectives and concerns
- Regulatory or compliance requirements (e.g., PCI-DSS, GDPR)
- Timeframes and budget constraints
Step 3: NDA and Contractual Agreement
Before sharing sensitive details, a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is signed. Then, the scope and terms of the penetration test are formalized in a contractual agreement, covering objectives, deliverables, timeline, pricing, and legal aspects.
A technical meeting is held to further define the scope, specifying assets like IP ranges, domains, applications, and fuctionality to be tested. The type of penetration test (black-box, white-box, or gray-box) is also determined. Key details include:
- Customer’s risk appetite
- Authenticated test (require credentials) to not
- Testing environment (testing, staging, or production)
- Test duration and downtime allowance
A formal "Scope of Service" document is created, outlining the methodology, legal permissions, testing schedule, reporting mechanisms, and fallback procedures in case issues arise during testing (e.g., system crashes).
Step 6: Test Preparation
The Passeca Penetration testers team ensures they have all necessary access and permissions. They gather information based on the scope and plan, preparing the tools and environment for testing.
Step 7: Test Execution
The penetration test begins, which typically involves multiple phases such as:
- Reconnaissance and Information Gathering: Collecting data about the target to understand its infrastructure and vulnerabilities.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Using automated tools to identify potential weaknesses.
- Exploitation: Attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to assess the impact.
- Post-Exploitation and Pivoting: Testing if deeper access can be achieved once inside the network or application.
- Clean-Up: Removing any test artifacts and ensuring no disruptive changes have been made to the system.
Step 8: Real-Time Updates
Depending on the nature of the test and agreed terms, the customer may receive daily or real-time updates on any critical vulnerabilities found that could require immediate action (e.g., if a high-severity vulnerability is discovered).
Once the test is complete, the security team compiles a draft report outlining:
- A detailed breakdown of vulnerabilities found
- Impact and risk assessment for each vulnerability
- Steps to reproduce each issue or proof of concept for exploit
- Remediation steps to fix the issues
The draft report is shared with the customer for review. A meeting is scheduled to explain the findings in detail, prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their criticality and impact on the business.
Step 11: Final Report Delivery
After incorporating customer feedback, the final report is delivered. This report typically includes:
- Executive summary
- Technical findings and remediation
- Prioritized action plan
- Recommendations for improving security posture
- Compliance checks (if applicable)
Step 12: Remediation Assistance
Passeca company may offer assistance to the customer in fixing the vulnerabilities. This might include providing patch guidance, reconfiguring systems, or additional advisory services. A remediation timeline is agreed upon to ensure critical issues are addressed first.
Step 13: Retesting (if needed)
After remediation, some customers opt for a follow-up test to validate that vulnerabilities have been properly fixed. This retesting is typically scoped only around the previously discovered issues to confirm that they no longer pose a threat.
A final meeting is conducted to discuss lessons learned, improvements in the security environment, and further steps for the customer to maintain a robust security posture.
Step 15: Ongoing Security Strategy
Passeca company may recommend an ongoing security strategy, which could include services like continuous monitoring, annual penetration tests, vulnerability management programs, and training for employees.
Step 16: Customer Feedback and Future Planning
The customer is invited to provide feedback on the engagement and future security needs are discussed, potentially leading to a long-term partnership for maintaining a secure environment.