Firewall penetration testing is a method of locating, scoping, and penetrating a specific firewall to test an organisation's network infrastructure. With a firewall being the first line of defence against malicious actors, firewall penetration testing is considered one of the most significant forms of cybersecurity maintenance. But what exactly makes firewall penetration testing so important when testing network infrastructure?
In this blog, we will explore the processes and advantages of this essential pentesting approach, supporting your organisation to make well-informed decisions about its cybersecurity strategy.
What is firewall penetration testing?
Firewall penetration testing is a manual testing method utilised as part of a broader cybersecurity methodology to assess your organisation's security posture. Based on your organisation's needs and expectations, a firewall pentest will analyse your firewall configuration to test its resilience against malicious traffic.
Pentesters will attempt to gain access to your internal network by simulating an attack, exposing vulnerabilities in a controlled environment so that effective remediations can be made.
This method of penetration testing is similar to external pen testing, which also seeks to exploit your organisation's external infrastructure through controlled attacks. Both work together as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance your organisation's perimeter defence.
Why is firewall pentesting important for your business?
Firewall testing is an essential component of any robust security strategy due its criticality in protecting against external threats.
Regular pentesting minimises the risk of network attacks by identifying firewall weaknesses before malicious hackers can take advantage of them. By conducting routine pentests, organisations can strengthen their defences against potential threats, significantly reducing the likelihood of data breaches, unauthorised access to sensitive resources, and costly security incidents.
This proactive approach not only enhances overall security for your business, but also builds trust with stakeholders, demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding customer information.
Common vulnerabilities identified in firewall penetration tests
Any competent pentesting team will be well informed of the current threat landscape and potential weaknesses your firewall may have.
Using prior knowledge on exploitable vulnerabilities, they will test all areas of potential weakness using similar methods to a malicious hacker. Upon identifying these, they will report back the findings, allowing your organisation to make effective remediations and defend against future cyber attacks.
Although firewalls are designed to protect against various threats, certain vulnerabilities frequently emerge during penetration tests. These common weaknesses include:
- Misconfigured rules: A misconfigured firewall or improperly set firewall rules indicates that the firewall has not been correctly configured, potentially leaving the network exposed to security vulnerabilities.
- Outdated firmware: Outdated firewalls are firewalls that have become redundant due to not being up to date with the latest security. Outdated firewalls therefore lose their ability to protect your network from cyber threats, leaving you vulnerable to exploitation.
- Weak access controls: Weak access controls in a firewall allows an external user access to sensitive data, leading to all sorts of significant security risks when exploited.
The benefits of firewall pentesting
Assessing the strength of your firewall security is key in any thorough security strategy, and offers a range of benefits. Here are just a few:
- Improved network security: Through firewall penetration testing, businesses can ensure their network devices are protected and evaluate whether their firewall is blocking unwanted traffic as expected. Any errors within the network traffic can then be remediated based off of the pentest's findings, improving overall network security.
- Prevent future breaches: Pentesters will utilise the methods of real-world malicious hackers as part of a firewall penetration testing methodology to test your firewall's security posture. By enacting these methods, potential vulnerabilities can be identified and resolved without the risk of any actual damage or exploitation.
- Ensure compliance with security standards: Firewall penetration testing ensures firewalls are properly configured to comply with security standards such as PCI DSS and ISO 27001. Meeting compliance with these security standards sends trust signals to clients and partners, assuring them that their sensitive data is protected.
How often should you conduct firewall penetration testing?
There are a few key factors that can help you understand the best frequency at which to firewall penetration test your network. For example, it is always advisable to schedule a test when changes are made to your organisation's network architecture, or when individuals within your network are added or removed from an access control list.
For many sectors, there will be an expectation to meet compliance requirements. Regular scheduling of a firewall penetration test ensures your organisation is always compliant, and minimises hassle through a structured cybersecurity approach.
Regular firewall penetration testing is an essential component of OnSecurity's comprehensive security strategy.
Take control of your cybersecurity with OnSecurity’s proven network security solutions. Contact OnSecurity today to discover how we can help strengthen your security posture and ensure your business meets compliance requirements.
