Penetration testing can be done using internal or industry standard methodologies. Internal methods are created by the company, while industry standards are developed by security organizations. Both methods are effective, and the choice depends on the tester. The methodology provides guidelines for testing and documenting the procedure. Internal methods are preferred by some testers, while industry standards offer a unified method for demonstrating proficiency.
There are essentially two main types of penetration testing methodology: internal and industry standards, although there is an almost unlimited number of variations within these. An internal methodology is one developed by a company, typically the one performing the test, for use by its employees. Industry standard methodologies, on the other hand, are those developed by major security organizations for use by other companies in an effort to create a universally recognized and approved standard methodology. Both types of penetration testing methodology can be effective, and the best one for a particular penetration test usually depends a lot on the person doing the testing.
A penetration testing methodology is a set of rules or guidelines used to perform penetration testing on a computer system or network. This type of testing is typically done to determine what possible weaknesses there might be in a system that can be used by hackers to launch an attack on that system. Once this initial analysis is complete, the tester typically launches a simulated attack against the system to determine how vulnerable these weak spots are. A penetration testing methodology is often used to determine how this sequence of evaluation and testing should be conducted and to provide guidelines for testers to document the procedure.
One of the most common types of penetration testing methodology is an internal methodology. This is a document created by a company for its employees to use as they perform penetration testing on a system. An internal penetration testing methodology can be prepared by a company that has hired someone to test their system or by a company that rents its services to other companies to test them. This type of methodology may be preferred by some testers, as it later ensures that any complaints the customer might have about the test can be disputed using the methodology the customer provides for the tester.
An industry standard penetration testing methodology, on the other hand, is a document created by a computer security company for use by other testers. This type of methodology is usually intended for use by testers not employed by the company that created it. One of the benefits of this type of methodology is that testers can more easily point to a single, unified method by which they can learn and demonstrate their proficiency. The flaws of an industry standard penetration testing methodology, however, are that companies may not like all of the methods set within it, and it can be difficult to determine which method truly serves as the industry standard.
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