Understanding physical penetration testing and how to take advantage of it requires:
- Knowing what physical pen tests are and the overall approach they take
- Appreciating how an actual physical penetration test works in practice
- Scoping best practices into a physical or hybrid pen testing program
- Comparing physical pen tests against other forms of penetration testing
What is Physical Penetration Testing?
Physical penetration testing is an approach to pen testing that either includes or solely focuses on physical, on-premise attacks. Physical pen tests involve a single expert or a team thereof visiting an organization’s premises and simulating attacks involving physical means either predominantly or exclusively. Otherwise, it follows the same principles as all other pen tests.
Pen testing overall is an approach to cybersecurity that uses offense defensively, simulating attacks on a given system to understand how a cybercriminal would operate. The knowledge produced includes in-depth indications of how and where certain system defenses are failing or non-existent. And, more importantly, it gives organizations a firsthand look at exactly what real-world attackers would do so that they can plan accordingly and stop a real attack.
How It Works
In practice, a physical penetration test follows the same steps or phases as other pen tests, with a key difference being the inclusion or sole focus on physical methods and points of contact.
Here is an example of how a physical penetration test might play out:
- An organization contacts a penetration testing services provider to negotiate terms for a pen test exercise, including starting points, guardrails, and intended focuses/outcomes.
- The provider organization will conduct research about the client’s systems to determine the best points of entry or other key parameters to inform the eventual simulated attack.
- The pen test provider will send a pen tester (i.e., the simulated attacker) to the premises of the organization with a specific gameplan and tools in mind, based on its research.
- The pen tester will attempt to gain illicit access to sensitive systems through several methods (i.e., social engineering, physical bypass, etc.) to predetermined extents or carry out specific functions (i.e., data extraction) until they succeed or are stopped.
- The provider will conduct penetration testing reporting to help the target organization mitigate risks and weaknesses identified, including recommended cybersecurity controls.
No two pen tests are the same, regardless of similarity in system architecture or methods used.
Best Practices
When conducting a physical pen test, the overarching best practice to keep in mind is that the more realistic and insidious a simulation is, the more potential it has to illuminate weaknesses.
In terms of planning, organizations should paint an honest picture of their defenses without exaggerating confidence in any specific aspect. The more a simulated attacker knows, the better they’ll be able to fine-tune their strategies and stress-test systems more acutely.
And, in terms of implementation, exhausting available options is key. Using multiple physical entry methods, brute force attacks, and pairing physical and other methods (i.e., initial social engineering contacts followed up with an in-person meeting) are all highly recommended.
And, with respect to pentest reporting, a physical pen test should take into account the specific spatial and other circumstances that allowed for a given simulation’s success or failure. For example, the presence or absence of certain employees and the context in which they’re encountered (alone or in a group) could mask underlying social engineering weaknesses.
Physical vs. Other Penetration Testing Methods
Most penetration testing, irrespective of physical or other means, is either external or internal in focus. External tests are mostly about attackers’ ability to get into a system, whereas internal tests are about what they can do, and how, once they are inside. But another way to distinguish between pen testing methods is by the specific systems they focus on or ends they accomplish.
To that effect, here are other pen testing practices you might consider and how they compare:
- Network penetration testing focuses on network infrastructure and can use both physical and other means. However, non-physical variants give an incomplete picture of risk.
- Cloud systems pen testing focuses on vulnerabilities connecting to and from the cloud, which can be tested adequately without much or any physical means or components.
- Compliance pen testing focuses on how attackers might compromise compliance initiatives by accessing specific kinds of data. Physical means are essential.
Across any kind of test, using the techniques most likely to showcase weaknesses, physical or otherwise, should be a priority—as should be working with a trusted penetration testing partner.
Get the Most out of Penetration Testing Services
Physical pen testing is one of the best ways to assess your cyberdefenses and adjust them based on the threat intelligence you generate. To get the most out of it, you should consider a holistic pen testing program incorporating physical and other techniques with robust reporting.
RSI Security has helped countless organizations rethink their cyberdefenses with pen testing, architecture implementation, program advisory, and other services. We believe discipline up front unlocks greater freedom down the road, and we’re committed to helping you achieve it.
To learn more about our physical penetration testing services, contact RSI Security today!
