Different types of Security testing

What is Security testing?

Security testing is performed to identify the vulnerabilities in the software application and also protect the data and resources from cyber threats and intruders. It is performed in order to ensure that the system is intact with the security mechanism and cannot be hacked or used for any misconduct.

Types of security testing:

1. Penetration testing: In this security testing type, hackers try to simulate a real-time cyber-attack against a particular system or software to detect whether there are any vulnerabilities that have been identified. It’s basically keeping a check on the security vulnerabilities so that the system or software can be safeguarded against cyberattacks.
2. Risk assessment: An application, software, system, or network’s security risks are thoroughly scrutinized. Further, based on the risk of security, it is categorized as high, medium or low. Key security controls are identified and implemented. This type also focuses on preventing vulnerabilities and security-related defects.
3. Vulnerability scanning: This type ensures that potential vulnerabilities are identified in the entire network. Detecting the weak points in systems, devices, or networks and then providing effective countermeasures to solve the issues is carried out in this particular type.
4. Ethical hacking: Ethical hacking includes a lot of hacking methodologies. Ethical hackers conduct simulation activity to exploit an application, system, or network’s vulnerabilities by taking permission from the necessary sources. All the vulnerabilities that have been found are collected and listed in a report by the ethical hackers and are then submitted to the concerned management.
5. Security scanning: Both manual and automation tools are used to identify vulnerabilities in an application, system, or device. After the conduction of the required tests, the insights are listed and then possible solutions are planned to fix the issues. Depending upon the size of the specific system or network, an appropriate security scan is conducted to identify the potential loopholes. Security scanning is mostly carried out on a regular basis so that the application and systems can perform in an optimal manner.
6. Security auditing: It is a methodical process of reviewing the security of an organization’s information system. Security auditing is conducted to know how viable the security strategy of an organization is and also whether the security implementation is done according to the standards and regulations. Through code reviews and gap analysis, assessing the security of the operating system, information handling processes, user practices, physical configurations, etc. takes place in a tactical manner.
7. Posture assessment: This type combines the functionality of risk assessment, ethical hacking, and security scanning for firming up the overall security system of an organization. The resiliency of the information security environment is determined in this testing type. Organizations must be capable enough to defend themselves against cyberattacks and also determine what are the steps needed to make it a success is what is analyzed in this testing type.

Conclusion: If your organization is really serious about the security infrastructure, then the management must take proactive steps to implement an effective security mechanism and then implement different security testing types. It is advised to take help from a next-gen QA and software testing services provider.