Security Testing – Ensure the Security of Your Systems

Security Testing

Security testing is a key tool in today's ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Penetration testing, intrusion testing, and auditing are all forms of security testing whose goal is to protect systems and the data they hold from potential attacks.

Security testing is a technical process in which security experts map out a system's weaknesses and vulnerabilities with the aim of preventing security breaches before they can be exploited. Learn more about our security testing services.

Security testing lets you confirm the security of your systems.

Why is security testing worth doing?

Security testing gives you an independent, third-party view of a target's security, free of assumptions. The goal of testing is to challenge existing technical solutions and identify any weaknesses in them.

For many organizations, security testing becomes relevant through a question like this:

"Could our systems be breached from the outside?"

Well-known data breaches, such as the Vastaamo case in Finland, have shown how serious the consequences of security gaps can be.

What gets tested in security testing?

The target of security testing can be a single component or an entire environment.

Common targets include:

• Internal company network (LAN)
• External company network (WAN)
• Web applications
• Mobile applications
• Cloud environments
• APIs
• IoT and embedded devices
• Individual systems
• Physical security controls

In principle, any technical system can be tested.

Planning a security test

Defining the target alone isn't enough. It's also important to clarify:

• What do you want to achieve with the testing?
• Is a production or test environment being tested?
• How large and complex is the system?
• How is authentication implemented?
• How many servers or devices are in scope?
• How many APIs does the system include?
• How many user roles does the system have?
• What technologies are used?
• When can testing be carried out?
• Could testing cause downtime?
• What's out of scope?
• What should the final report include?
• Will remediation be validated afterward?

A well-planned project saves time for both the client and the tester.

Types of testing

Security testing can be carried out in three ways.

Black Box testing

In black box testing, the tester has no prior knowledge of the system.

This mirrors the perspective of a genuine external attacker. The tester tries to identify vulnerabilities based solely on the system's visible interfaces.

Benefits

• Reflects a realistic attack
• Doesn't require internal system knowledge

Drawbacks

• Can be time-consuming
• Not every attack attempt may be technically feasible

Example:

The tester attempts SQL injection against an application that doesn't use an SQL database.

Grey Box testing

In grey box testing, the tester is given a limited amount of information about the system.

Typically this might include:

• user credentials
• documentation
• API descriptions
• architecture diagrams

This is the most common form of security testing, since it allows testing to be focused efficiently on the most important areas.

White Box testing

In white box testing, the tester has full visibility into the system.

Available material might include:

• source code
• architecture
• infrastructure
• documentation

This method can also uncover vulnerabilities that an external attacker wouldn't easily find.

What determines the workload of a security test?

The workload is mainly based on the time the expert spends.

A typical project proceeds as follows:

1. Kickoff meeting
2. Security testing
3. Reporting
4. Report review with the client
5. Remediation validation (if needed)
6. Closing meeting

Small projects can be completed in just a few days.

A typical security test takes about 5–15 business days, but larger projects can require significantly more time.

What does the expert spend their time on?

During security testing, the expert spends time on tasks such as:

• Researching the target
• Reviewing documentation
• Preparing the testing environment
• Dynamic vulnerability scans
• Manual testing
• Source code analysis
• Reverse engineering
• Network traffic analysis
• Static analysis
• Developing test scripts
• Documenting findings
• Reporting
• Client communication

What does security testing cost?

The price of security testing is usually determined by:

• the scope of the target
• technical complexity
• the amount of work required
• the experience of the experts involved

Quality security testing requires enough time for the expert to stand behind the quality of their work.

What does the client need to provide?

Before testing begins, the client typically needs to arrange:

• A testing environment (if needed)
• Necessary user credentials
• A walkthrough of the system
• API documentation
• Other relevant technical documentation

What does the client receive?

As a result of security testing, the client receives a comprehensive report that includes:

• vulnerabilities found
• risk classifications
• technical descriptions
• remediation recommendations
• possible next steps

A report prepared by an independent expert is often also a useful tool for management decision-making.

It's worth noting, however, that security testing describes the state of a system at the time of testing. Ongoing development can change the security posture afterward.

Summary

Security testing is a core part of modern cybersecurity.

It helps an organization:

• identify vulnerabilities
• reduce the risk of data breaches
• assess the current state of its security
• develop security systematically

The best results are achieved when the client and security experts work closely together throughout the project.