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Penetration Test vs. Vulnerability Assessment

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Penetration Test vs. Vulnerability Assessment
Ø Penetration testing ensures you that your network will not be penetrated by malicious users.
Ø Vulnerability Assessment gives an organization the ability to identify potentials for intrusion to their network.
Ø Penetration test are more intrusive
Reason for Assessement
Ø Identify the vulnerability

Ø Quantify the vulnerability

Ø Prioritizing the vulnerability

Internal vs. External

Ø Internal assessment shows the vulnerabilities that employees or anyone with access to the internal network and exploit them.

Ø External assessments shows the vulnerabilities from someone without direct access to the internal network.
Window of Vulnerability
Ø Unknown Window of Vulnerability

Ø Known Window of Vulnerability
Risk
Ø Vulnerability
Ø Attacks
Ø Threats
Ø Exposure

Risk = Vulnerability x Attacks x Threats x Exposure
Risk of Internal Assessment
Ø Can’t be truly objective

Ø Fair and impartial assessment

Management is force to deal with the “fox in the Hen House” problem
Steps 1-3 to an Successful Assessment
• Understand the consequences

• Document Management buy-in

• Develop manageable objectives

Step 4-6 to an Successful Assessment
• Determine method

• Plan for disruptions

• Develop an assessment in a impactful, yet understandable, way.

Qualified and Experienced outside Third Party.
Ø Protect yourself with an contract
Ø Breadth of experience
Ø Currency with the latest technical and legal development
Ø Cost effective
Ø Protect the Dissemination of the assessment finding
Legal
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Ø ensure the appropriate safeguards of the security and confidentiality of customer records and information.
Ø Protect against anticipated threats
Ø Protect against unauthorized

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