Different Types of Security Testing [Updated 2024]

• 10 May, 2023
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In this article, we’ll be talking about types of security testing that help organizations secure their infrastructure, networks, systems, and devices. A lot of techniques and tools are used in order to secure the organization’s resources against online threats that are executed due to the unauthorized access of adversaries.

Due to such attacks, organizations and individuals have to bear losses of several important resources, such as the following:.

1. Confidential Information,
2. Financial Data,
3. Business Secrets,
4. Employees’ Details, and
5. Client’s Data.

Security testing makes it possible for professionals to keep the data and system safe against threats that could disrupt the working environment of officials. Now that we know more about things, let’s move further.

What is Security Testing?

It’s a process of testing the security potential of systems and apps to recognize security flaws that adversaries could target. Moreover, this process involves the following tasks:

1. Vulnerability Scanning,
2. Penetration Testing,
3. Code Review, and
4. Security Configuration Testing.

Through this process, the professionals will be able to face real-time cyberattack scenarios. Moreover, they will be able to recognize security flaws and enhance security measures. That’s because security flaws may provide a backdoor for adversaries to access the system unauthorized.

Afterward, they can attack the system with malware and other malicious content that could harm the companies’ assets. Even if it’s an individual or a big company, everyone needs a security tester to ensure their protection against unknown threats.

Thus, everyone needs to learn about how security testing is essential for everybody to ensure their safety in the field of technology filled with skilled people who can use their skills to execute several tasks without the consent of the person.

Different Types of Security Testing

How do I perform security testing?

Here are some steps to perform security testing:

Identify the Scope and Objectives

One needs to set a goal before performing a security test on any resource. It could be identifying.

1. Apps & Security,
2. Potential Risks & Threats, and
3. Desired results of the test.

Plan and Design the Tests

After that, one can do proper planning on how to execute the security test that involves.

1. The Types of Tests to be executed,
2. The Tools, & Techniques,
3. The process of evaluating the results,
4. Identify the testing environment,
5. Test the data, and
6. Special preparation.

Execute the Tests

Now, the professionals need to proceed with the test as planned while using appropriate tools & techniques. It would involve.

1. Vulnerability Scans,
2. Penetration Tests,
3. Code Reviews, and
4. Other Types of Security Tests.

Evaluate the Results

Afterward, results should be viewed as the possible outcome of the security tests for loopholes & risks. Thus, it will involve.

1. Check the threats of loopholes,
2. Determine whether they are impactful on the system or apps.

Report and Communicate the Findings

Write down what did you find out in the test/ evaluation. That could involve.

1. Identified security flaws,
2. The danger and effect, and
3. Providing solutions to prevent them.

That is necessary to enhance security measures.

6. Retest and Validate

Afterward, one can replay the test and see if there’s anything left behind to ensure that the patches are well implemented to prevent such threats.

Types of Security Testing Tools

1. Burp Suite

A sophisticated tool for testing the security of web apps that has several functions, including a web vulnerability scanner, proxy server, and application-level attacker.

2. Metasploit

A tool for open-source penetration testing that allows users to execute attacks and find weak spots in systems and networks.

3. Nmap

A tool for host and service discovery, loophole detection, network research, and security auditing.

4. Wireshark

An effective tool for locating possible security flaws is a network protocol analyzer that enables users to capture and observe network traffic.

5. OpenVAS

A free vulnerability scanner for networks and computer systems that may be used to find potential security holes.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Different Types of Security Testing

1. What is an example of security testing?

Pentesting could be a great example of that. It involves executing a fake attack on systems to find out security flaws in them before it get exploited by adversaries. After that, one can get appropriate solutions for enhancing security measures for better protection against online threats.

2. What is security testing in QA?

Quality Assurance is the process of checking the security measures of a software app, system, or network to recognize the security flaws in it before getting the attention of cybercriminals. It can prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, and other online threats.

3. Types of Application Security Testing?

The following are the main types of application security testing:

1. Static Application Security Testing (SAST),
2. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST),
3. Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST),
4. Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP), and
5. Manual Application Security Testing.