Different Types of Penetration Testing

 


In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity threats are more prevalent and sophisticated than ever. From startups to government agencies, every organization faces the risk of cyberattacks that can cripple operations and compromise sensitive data.

One of the most effective ways to proactively identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited is through penetration testing, commonly known as pen testing.

This blog breaks down the various types of penetration testing, testing approaches, five key stages, and how often they should be performed, so you can make informed decisions to secure your systems and data.

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is a simulated cyberattack against your IT infrastructure, web applications, or network to identify vulnerabilities that a malicious attacker could exploit.

These tests are ethical and controlled, allowing security teams to understand where defenses may fail — without the catastrophic impact of a real breach.

Who Performs Penetration Testing?

Penetration testers, also known as ethical hackers, are professionals trained to think like cybercriminals. Many organizations hire external pen testing firms or freelance security experts to ensure an unbiased, outside-in view.

These professionals often hold certifications such as:

  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

  • OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)

  • CPT (Certified Penetration Tester)

Three Core Approaches to Penetration Testing

Before diving into specific types, it’s important to understand the three common approaches to penetration testing:

1. Black Box Testing

  • The tester has no prior knowledge of the system.

  • Simulates a real-world hacker attempting to break in from the outside.

  • Time-consuming but reveals critical vulnerabilities.

2. White Box Testing

  • Full access to source code, network diagrams, and credentials.

  • Focuses on in-depth testing of known attack surfaces.

  • Ideal for finding configuration flaws, logic issues, and insider threats.

3. Gray Box Testing

  • Partial knowledge is shared, such as user-level access.

  • Simulates an insider threat or a compromised account.

  • Strikes a balance between realism and efficiency.

9 Types of Penetration Testing

Each type of penetration test targets different aspects of your IT environment. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Internal Penetration Testing

Simulates an attack from within your network, such as a disgruntled employee or someone who has gained internal access.

🔹 Tests security policies, access controls, and segmentation
🔹 Reveals vulnerabilities that bypass perimeter defenses

2. External Penetration Testing

Tests internet-facing systems like web servers, VPN gateways, or email servers.

🔹 Simulates hackers operating from outside the organization
🔹 Focuses on firewall strength, DDoS resilience, and public data leaks

3. Blind (Closed Box) Penetration Testing

The tester only knows your company name. No credentials or system access is shared.

🔹 Mimics real-world attackers using publicly available data
🔹 Tests how well your systems stand up against reconnaissance and brute-force attacks

4. Double-Blind Penetration Testing

Even your internal security team doesn’t know the test is happening.

🔹 Evaluates incident response readiness
🔹 Gauges how fast and effectively your team can detect and respond

5. Social Engineering Penetration Testing

Targets human weaknesses, not just technology.

🔹 Includes phishing, pretexting, baiting, and impersonation
🔹 Tests employee awareness and your organization's social engineering defenses

6. IoT Penetration Testing

Focuses on vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices like smart sensors, cameras, or wearables.

🔹 Identifies risks in firmware, APIs, data transmission, and hardware access
🔹 Critical for healthcare, smart factories, and connected home products

7. Network Penetration Testing

Analyzes network infrastructure, including routers, firewalls, and switches.

🔹 Conducted internally or externally
🔹 Detects open ports, misconfigurations, weak credentials, and insecure protocols

8. Web Application Penetration Testing

Targets web apps and APIs—often the most exposed part of your digital environment.

🔹 Explores common web vulnerabilities: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, etc.
🔹 Aligns with OWASP Top 10 standards

9. Physical Penetration Testing

Tests the physical security of your offices, data centers, and hardware.

🔹 Can include tailgating, bypassing locks, stealing access cards
🔹 Ensures attackers can't gain unauthorized physical access

The 5 Stages of Penetration Testing

Penetration testing follows a structured process to simulate and report real-world risks:

1. Reconnaissance

Gather system information, DNS records, network IPs, public leaks, and app structure.

2. Scanning & Vulnerability Identification

Use tools like Nmap, Nessus, or Burp Suite to identify weaknesses.

3. Exploitation

Attempt to breach systems using safe attack methods. Goal: determine how deep access can go.

4. Reporting

Create detailed findings, impact analysis, and vulnerability scoring (e.g., using CVSS).

5. Recommendations

Suggest fixes and mitigation strategies, sometimes working directly with dev and IT teams.

How Often Should You Perform Penetration Tests?

Most cybersecurity experts recommend conducting penetration testing at least once a year — or whenever there’s:

  • A major infrastructure change

  • New applications deployed

  • Cloud migration

  • Regulatory compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)

  • A recent breach or incident

For fast-scaling startups or enterprises with dynamic environments, quarterly or continuous testing is ideal.

Final Thoughts

Penetration testing is no longer optional — it’s a critical layer of cybersecurity hygiene that reveals your weakest links before attackers do.

By understanding the different types of penetration tests, the approach styles, and testing cadence, you can build a proactive security program that protects both your brand and your users.

Whether you're a SaaS startup, financial institution, healthcare provider, or government entity, choosing the right penetration test ensures you're always one step ahead of cyber threats.

Need Help with Penetration Testing?

Securis360 offers affordable, remote-first penetration testing services aligned with industry frameworks like OWASP, NIST, and SOC 2. From black-box web app testing to full-stack infrastructure audits — we’re your trusted partner in staying secure.


Location: New York, NY, USA

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