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A black-box test may be the best option for you if you have the budget for only one penetration testing method. The main reason for this is that black-box tests give you an outsider’s perspective of your system.
While penetration testing is a vital part of any organization’s security protocols, it is important to remember that there are three different types of tests within this category. The black-box penetration test is just one of these, and it differs from the others in a few key ways. For instance, with a black-box test, the testers have no prior knowledge of the system they are trying to break into. This allows them to approach the system with fresh eyes and hopefully find any weak points that someone with insider knowledge might overlook.
What Is a Penetration Test?
A penetration test is a form of ethical hacking that involves organizing authorized and simulated cybersecurity attacks on websites, mobile applications, networks, and systems to discover vulnerabilities using penetration testing tools and cybersecurity strategies.
Penetration testers or ethical hackers try to hack into your system before a real cybercriminal does. This way, you prevent cyberattacks by finding vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them; it’s all about staying ahead. Different types of penetration tests include white-box, grey-box, and black-box penetration tests.
What Is a Black-Box Penetration Test?
A black-box penetration test is one where the system being tested is treated as a mystery. The tester has no knowledge about the system’s inner workings or any access to codes, applications, or the network. The only privileges available to the tester are those of a normal user.
Testers go in blind to find vulnerabilities, using tools like automated and manual penetration tests, vulnerability scans, social engineering attacks, and trial and error. This type of test is also called an external or closed-box penetration test.
The black box penetration test is a more accurate representation of a real cyberattack than, say, the white box test, because, just like the hacker, the penetration tester has no knowledge about the systems running in the organization and has to carry out the surveillance and information gathering phase independently.
What Are the Advantages of a Black-Box Penetration Test?
The black-box penetration test is an invaluable resource because it provides a clear and unbiased perspective. This is as close to an actual cyberattack that you can get without the negative consequences. The hackers who target your system don’t have any insider information or advantages. They’re just like the penetration tester in that they’re looking for vulnerabilities that they can exploit.
Penetration testers are a bit like investigative journalists. They come in with no prior knowledge of the systems they’re testing and try to find vulnerabilities that the organization might have missed. In penetration tests where the pentester is given access to the system blueprints and processes ahead of time, there is a greater chance that the pentester will focus on a specific set of vulnerabilities and miss others.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Black-Box Penetration Test?
The main disadvantage of the black-box penetration test is that it is not as efficient as the gray-box and white-box penetration tests. This is because the tester does not have access to information about the system under test, and so cannot target specific areas that are likely to be vulnerable.
Cybercriminals might be patient, but penetration testers can’t afford to be. Whereas a criminal might spend months looking for vulnerabilities in an organization’s system, a tester only has a limited amount of time to find them. This means that testers need to be proactive and start looking for potential weak points before the criminals do.
Is a Black Box Penetration Test the Right Choice for Your Organization?
Depending on the scope of your test and what resources are available to you, the answer to this question will vary. If you’re trying to save money or only testing a new addition to your system, like an app or a new web service, then a black-box penetration test is your best pick because it covers a limited scope.
However, if you want a more thorough scan of the vulnerabilities in your system and have the budget for it, then you should consider other types of penetration testing as well.
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