Just like how a regular healthcheck-up is necessary for maintaining a healthy body, regular VAPT(Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) is crucial for the overall health of an organization's IT. As the IT environment continues to evolve, so does the complexity and sophistication of cyber threats, making it increasingly difficult for organizations to keep up with the latest security measures.

To this end, we have created this whitepaper to provide an overview of VAPT and its growing importance in the current digital landscape. Our goal is to help organizations understand the benefits of VAPT and how it can safeguard their business from cyber threats.

Understanding VA & PT

VAPT, which stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, is a process used to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's digital infrastructure and assess the effectiveness of existing security controls. It involves identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the system that could potentially be exploited by attackers, as well as testing the system's defenses against potential attacks.

The vulnerability assessment involves the use of various tools and techniques to identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities in a digital system, such as outdated software, weak passwords, or misconfigured settings.

Once vulnerabilities are identified, the next step is penetration testing. Here, a VAPT expert attempts to exploit the identified vulnerabilities to see if they can be used to launch an attack on the system. This helps identify potential security gaps and weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.

Step-by-step breakdown of the VA & PT process 

Identifying and addressing security risks is vital for businesses to safeguard their valuable IT assets from potential cyberattacks. VAPT is a proactive approach to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's digital systems.

The VAPT process involves three types of testing: black box, grey box, and white box testing/source code review. Black Box Testing simulates the actions of an external attacker, while Grey Box Testing involves testing from either external or internal networks, with the knowledge of the internal network and system. It is a combination of both Black Box Testing and White Box Testing.  White Box Testing involves testing software applications or systems with the knowledge of the internal network and system. It is highly performed by the developers to identify and fix the technical vulnerabilities in the system’s code or architecture.

The VAPT process consists of several key stages, starting with the information gathering, enumeration, and continuing through root shell access to reporting.

• ‍Information Gathering: The VAPT team collects information about the target systems, including IP addresses, network topology, operating systems, services, and applications. This involves passive and active techniques to gather data from publicly accessible sources.
• ‍Enumeration: The VAPT team actively seeks more detailed information about the target systems. They employ various techniques to gain a holistic understanding of their configuration and identifies any potential vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
• ‍Service Discovery and Mapping: The VAPT team identifies open ports, services, and applications running on the target systems. This is essential to gain an understanding of the services in operation and their locations, aiding in the identification of potential vulnerabilities.
• ‍Vulnerability Scanning: Automated tools are used to scan the target systems for known vulnerabilities, such as missing patches, misconfigurations, and default passwords.
• ‍Exploitation: The VAPT team attempts to access the target system by exploiting the identified vulnerabilities. This phase involves a combination of manual and automated techniques, including simulated real-world attack scenarios.
• ‍Privilege Escalation: Once a foothold is established, the VAPT team aims to elevate user privileges through techniques such as brute force. This phase may involve password cracking and buffer overflow exploits to escalate to a higher privilege level.
• ‍Root Shell/Data Access: The VAPT team makes an attempt to access the target system at the root level, which grants them full control. With this level of access, they have the freedom to perform actions such as adding malware or stealing data.
• ‍Reporting: The final phase of the VAPT process is to document the findings of the assessment. This includes the vulnerabilities that were identified, their impact, and recommendations for remediation. The report is carefully crafted to be comprehensive, prioritizing risks based on the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) scoring system. Additionally, it incorporates OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) guidelines to highlight any web application-related vulnerabilities. It should also include any false positives and non-vulnerabilities uncovered during the testing phase, ensuring transparency and accuracy in the assessment results.

By following these key stages, organizations can help strengthen their overall security posture and protect against a wide range of dynamic and advanced threats. 

Various tools are commonly used in VAPT processes. These tools serve different purposes and contribute to the overall assessment. While the list below includes some frequently used tools, it is important to note that there are many other tools and scripts available that can be suitable for specific targets and scopes.

1.     Nessus Professional

2.     Burp Suite Professional

3.     Metasploit

4.     OWASP ZAP

5.     SQLMap

6.     Nmap

7.     Nikto

8.     Wireshark / tcpdump

9.     Fiddler

10.  Hydra

Benefits of adopting VA & PT for businesses 

Conducting regular VAPT can bring numerous benefits to businesses. Here are some key points that you should know: 

✔️ Improved Security Posture: Organizations can proactively identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their systems, network, and applications. By addressing these vulnerabilities, organizations can strengthen their defenses against potential cyberattacks and reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents. 

✔️ Compliance with Industry Standards: Organizations will be able to comply with various industry-specific regulations and standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).Compliance with these regulations is mandatory and essential to avoid costly penalties and reputational damage. 

✔️ Protection Against Monetary Loss: Organizations can prevent monetary loss by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before an attacker exploits them. By reducing the risk of data breaches and other security incidents, organizations can avoid the costs associated with incident response, remediation, and legal fees. 

✔️‍ Protection of Customer Data and Trust: Organizations can protect their customers' personal and financial information from theft, unauthorized access, and misuse. By strengthening their defenses against cyberattacks, organizations can maintain the trust of their customers and protect their reputation. 

✔️‍ Increased ROI for IT Investments: By conducting VAPT, organizations can ensure that their digital systems are effective and provide a positive return on investment. 

However, it's important to note that VAPT is not a one-time process.  It should be an ongoing practice to ensure that your digital assets remain secure.

8 Key Factors to consider when choosing a VAPT service provider. 

 Choosing the right VAPT service provider can be a daunting task. Here are some factors to consider: 

1. ‍Expertise and Experience: A professional VAPT service provider with a proven track record can provide you with valuable insights into your security posture. Their experience helps them to identify security gaps that may be missed by inexperienced testers. It is important to review their portfolio and references to ensure they have a successful track record in delivering high-quality VAPT services. 
2. Accreditations and Certifications: Be sure the VAPT service provider you select possesses the required accreditations such as ISO 27001 which will be a testament to the provider's expertise and professionalism in the field.
3. ‍Tools and Techniques used: When selecting a VAPT service provider, make sure they employ the most up-to-date technologies and methodologies to deliver accurate and comprehensive assessments.
4. ‍Scope and depth of Assessment: The service provider must have in depth and breadth coverage of every facet of your organization’s IT such as networks, apps, and endpoints based on your specific needs and requirements.
5. ‍Documentation: A VAPT service provider should have a documented approach and a clear process to carry out the testing. The methodology should explain the stages involved in the testing process, such as the sorts of tests that will be performed, the tools and techniques that will be utilized, and the schedule for completion. This technique should be transparent, and the client should have a clear understanding of the testing process. 
6. ‍Flexibility: Aim for a service provider who can tailor their services to match the unique needs and specifications of your business. 
7. ‍Technical support: The service provider should be capable enough to suggest and implement remediation solutions and provide continuing assistance and guidance to ensure the client's sustained security. 
8. ‍Cost: The service partner should possess a willingness to customize services based on the unique business requirements, optimize costs without compromising the quality, and deliver exceptional value for the money.

By considering these factors, you can choose a reliable VAPT service provider who can be a partner for mitigating cybersecurity risks of your business. 

Protect Your Business with Soffit's Proactive Approach to IT Security

Soffit’s Digital Security Services division (DSS) has over 16 years of experience in providing top-notch VA and PT services to businesses across the globe from diverse industry verticals. DSS provides VA and PT services in the following key areas:

✔️ Network Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing focuses on identifying and testing vulnerabilities in an organization’s network infrastructure. The emphasis is on identifying system and network-level defects such as misconfigurations, wireless network vulnerabilities, product-specific vulnerabilities, weak protocols, and passwords. This service helps organizations to proactively identify potential network security risks and take appropriate measures to prevent attacks.  

Our offerings include for both external and internal VAPT services

·       External network VA & PT- Identifies vulnerabilities that can be exploited by intruders from outside the organization’s network.

·       Internal network VA & PT- Identifies loopholes in the security that could be exploited by internal users or intruders who might have gained access to the internal network.

✔️ Web application PT is designed to identify security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, authentication flaws, injection flaws, application logic flaws, and broken access controls in websites, web applications, and web portals, as well as their source. This service is essential to ensure the security and integrity of web applications, which are frequently targeted by attackers.

✔️ Mobile application PT is focused on analyzing and detecting security issues in mobile applications (iOS, Android, hybrid, PWA). This service helps organizations proactively identify vulnerabilities in mobile applications and take appropriate measures to prevent attacks.

Our wealth of experience and expertise in identifying and mitigating cyber threats has helped numerous organizations enhance their security posture, safeguard their IT assets, and protect their valuable assets from potential threats. With our holistic approach and proactive mindset, we are committed to providing unparalleled services that help businesses stay ahead of the curve and mitigate any cyber risks that may arise in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

1.      We offer comprehensive and structured approach complying global standards to our services

2.      Our team consists of certified professionals holding a minimum qualification of CEH, as well as senior professionals with over 20 years of experience.

3.      We utilize cutting-edge tools and provide actionable recommendations to ensure optimal results.

4.      We thoroughly test all the 96controls in OWASP WSTG version 4.2 in comparison to 10 controls that are tested generally.

5.      With a track record of serving over 750reputed clients, we provide customized solutions to meet each client’s unique needs.

At DSS, we understand the complexity involved in securing your business's IT assets. However, by taking the first step and partnering with us, you can future proof your business and reap the rewards of a high ROI in the future. Our long-term vision for your security will pay dividends as we work together to protect your business from evolving cyberthreats.

                                                                                               Healthy IT. Healthy Business!

References:

1.    $1.3 million spent on St. Mary’s cyber attack

2.    India suffered second-highest data breaches in 2022 with 450 million records exposed

3.    50 government websites hacked, 8 data breaches in 2022

4.    Gartner Predicts By 2025 Cyber Attackers Will Have Weaponized Operational Technology Environments to Successfully Harm or Kill Humans

5.    How to set practical time frames to remedy security vulnerabilities

6.    4 metrics that prove your cybersecurity program works

7.    Gartner IT score for security and risk management