External Security Testing Assessment Solution – External Platform Diagnostic

In the era of Industry 4.0, cities are becoming increasingly dynamic, and the rhythm of daily life is closely tied to the development of information technology (IT) systems. As a result, IT is widely applied in organizations and businesses to support this “dynamism,” becoming an indispensable part of operations by enabling instant access to information anytime, anywhere—even in critical domains such as finance, banking, or command and control of essential systems.

For this reason, protecting IT systems has become increasingly important and plays a decisive role in ensuring information security for organizations and businesses.

IT systems inevitably contain security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Therefore, organizations must stay one step ahead—identifying weaknesses within their IT systems and resolving them before they are exploited.

However, periodically assessing an organization’s IT systems is complex and requires high objectivity, which is why many organizations turn to external Information Security Assessment and Certification Services.

What Is NSV’s IT System Security Testing and Assessment Service?

Recognizing the importance of security testing and assessment for enterprise IT systems, NSV has developed the Platform Diagnostic service to help companies prevent potential attacks and malicious activities from cybercriminals.

So, what is a security testing assessment?

IT system security testing involves scanning for vulnerabilities on IT devices and the services running on them to prevent malicious activities that may cause data loss or system paralysis.

This service aims to protect businesses from targeted cyberattacks that may disrupt operations and lead to significant recovery costs.

Two Types of IT System Security Testing Services Provided by NSV

NSV’s security testing solutions are divided into two categories:

1. External Penetration Assessment:
   A security engineer uses a dedicated computer located outside the company’s IT system to simulate a cyberattacker. The engineer connects to the firewall via public IP addresses provided by the internet service provider. They then record, analyze, and attempt to exploit vulnerabilities on the firewall and any public-facing services.

2. Internal Penetration Assessment:
   A security engineer places a computer inside the company’s internal network and evaluates all devices within that environment.

This article covers the external penetration assessment method.

Objectives and Scope of External Penetration Assessment

An organization’s IT system is typically divided into two main areas: the external and internal sides of the firewall.

The external network is exposed directly to the internet. This is where businesses publish necessary services such as websites, VPN, FTP, etc. It is the most sensitive area and the most vulnerable to attacks because it acts as the gateway into the internal network.

Therefore, the main targets of an external assessment are all services the business exposes to the internet, including the firewall and all public-facing services.

External Penetration Assessment Process

The external security testing solution follows six steps:

Step 1 – Network Discovery:

Identify the Global IP addresses used by the business.

Step 2 – Vulnerability Scanning:

Scan for open TCP/UDP ports on the Global IP addresses, determine which services are running, and identify their version information.

Step 3 – Result Analysis:

Analyze and evaluate which vulnerabilities are associated with the identified services.

Step 4 – Attack/Exploit:

Attempt to exploit the existing vulnerabilities.

Step 5 – Reporting:

Report all vulnerable services that could potentially be exploited.

Step 6 – Remediation:

Provide solutions to patch the vulnerabilities and strengthen system security.

Conclusion

To ensure smooth business operations and prevent data leakage, companies must take IT security more seriously. Security testing and assessment services are designed to enhance system protection, helping organizations avoid serious damage from cyberattacks and the high costs of recovery.