VAPT Certification

About VAPT Certification in Ghana

Integrated Assessment Services has been advising digital security in Ghana both locally and internationally through its services. VAPT is a digital security certification that helps organizations identify dependencies, minimize surface attack vectors and prioritize business-driven risk management.

Digital companies are increasingly at risk of cyber attacks which have led to huge financial losses in 2018. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global costs are expected to rise from $3 Trillion in 2017 to $6 Trillion by 2021. With these figures, it is worrying to note that 3 out of 5 companies have been victims of cyber-attacks in the last year. However, this trend can be curtailed with a VAPT certification for digital security

Vulnerability Assessment Penetration Testing (VAPT) is a process used by many organizations to understand their vulnerabilities and prioritize risk areas in their digital business. This is a crucial step in minimizing the impact of cyber-attacks and complying with international best practices such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework and GDPR.

Integrated Assessment Services has been providing information security advisory for over 20 years and we have successfully implemented VAPT certification for local and international companies. We have also conducted security training courses in Ghana to help organizations understand various software vulnerabilities that could compromise their digital assets.

Our approach is based on the frameworks laid out by international bodies such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and GDPR. This helps organizations comply with international best practices and meet their compliance deadlines.

We offer an integrated approach to digital security to help companies identify vulnerabilities, prioritize business-driven risk management and build a cybersecurity roadmap based on the current cyber threats landscape. We also provide cloud security certification through ISO 227017 which is expected to take effect in 2020.

Need and Importance of VAPT Certification

The need to understand cyber threats has become urgent for organizations that handle large volumes of data and customer information. Data security is no longer an afterthought, but it should be part of the software development life cycle. Companies are at risk of losing intellectual property to cyber criminals who use ransomware as their main attack strategy. Organizations, therefore, require dedicated cybersecurity professionals who can advise on building a cyber resilience roadmap with VAPT certification as a key pillar.

It is not just software developers who need to be aware of information security, but everybody within the organization from top management down to entry-level employees. In fact, every individual should have some level of awareness of how data breaches happen and what steps can be taken to secure organizational information. Cybercriminals are skilled at generating phishing emails and social engineering attacks that can trick employees into infecting their systems with malware and ransomware.

VAPT Penetration Testing and ISO 27001 Certification: A Winning Combination for Organizations

top 5 key reasons why your organization needs VAPT certification:

  1. VAPT is a crucial step in minimizing the impact of cyber-attacks and complying with international best practices such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and GDPR.
  2. VAPT also helps companies identify vulnerabilities, prioritize business-driven risk management and build a cybersecurity roadmap based on the current cyber threats landscape.
  3. Penetration testing and vulnerability assessment go hand in hand to help determine which activities on the network are authorized and which ones aren’t.
  4. Vulnerability assessment helps organizations ensure compliance with GDPR by identifying personal data accessible through weak security controls.
  5. Many organizations have experienced cyber-attacks in the last year, but this trend can be curbed with VAPT and ISO 27001 certification.

Addressing Different Vulnerabilities: What is the Difference between Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment?

Vulnerability assessment is a form of penetration testing that highlights vulnerabilities in an organization’s digital assets, but it does not exploit them. This vulnerability assessment process identifies every entry point into the network and the associated risk level of each one. This information is then used to prioritize vulnerabilities and assess what security controls may be needed to mitigate them. The process helps an organization reduce its cyber-attack surface and identify areas that would benefit from additional investment in cybersecurity tools and technologies.

Vulnerability assessment follows a process similar to the penetration testing VAPT process.

  1. Planning and preparation: During this phase, an organization identifies its security objectives, the assets that need to be tested, the scope of the assessment, and all entry points into its network(s). It also creates a plan for conducting penetration testing activities in line with regulatory compliance requirements.
  2. Discovery: The penetration testing service provider performs a gap analysis to find out what security controls are in place, how they work, and where their limitations might exist. It then uses different tools, techniques, and procedures to discover vulnerabilities across the network.
  3. Exploitation: Next, it exploits those vulnerabilities, tests the system’s resistance to attacks, and determines the impact that successful exploitation would have on the business.
  4. Reporting: Finally, the penetration testing service provider reports its findings in a clear manner that can be easily understood by all concerned parties (system owners, auditors, C-level executives). It also provides recommendations for fixing vulnerabilities and making the system more secure.

Is Penetration Testing Only for Cybersecurity Professionals?

Although penetration testing is a technical process, anyone can learn it and the necessary skills to conduct these types of audits. However, if you don’t have in-house expertise in cybersecurity or information security, you should consider hiring a certified and experienced penetration testing service provider. There are many VAPT companies that already have ISO 27001 and ISO 27018 certification and can help you achieve your organization’s cybersecurity goals.

Contact us for VAPT Certification or Cloud Security Certification at enquiry@iascertification.com for risk assessment and penetration testing services.

Types  of Penetration testing based on knowledge of the target

Black Box

When the attacker does not know the target, it is referred to as a black box penetration test. This type requires a lot of time and the pen-tester uses automated tools to find vulnerabilities and weak spots.

White Box

When the penetration tester is given the complete knowledge of the target, it is called a white-box penetration test. The attacker has complete knowledge of the IP addresses, controls in place, code samples, operating system details, etc. It requires less time when compared to black-box penetration testing.

Grey Box

When the tester is having half  info about the target, it is referred to as gray box penetration testing. In this case, the attacker will have some knowledge of the target information like URLs, IP addresses, etc., but will not have complete knowledge or access.

Types of Penetration testing based on the position of tester

  • If the penetration test is conducted from outside the network, it is referred to as external penetration testing
  • the attacker is present inside the network, simulation of this scenario is referred to as internal penetration testing
  • Targeted testing is usually performed by the organization’s IT team and the Penetration Testing team working together
  • In a blind penetration test, the penetration tester is provided with no prior information except the organization name
  • In a double-blind test, at max, only one or two people within the organization might be aware that a test is being conducted.

Types of Penetration testing based on where it is performed

Network Penetration Testing

Network Penetration Testing activity aims at discovering weaknesses and vulnerabilities related to the network infrastructure of the organization. It involves, firewall configuration & bypass testing, Stateful analysis testing, DNS attacks, etc. Most common software packages which are examined during this test include:

  • Secure Shell(SSH)
  • SQL Server
  • MySQL
  • Simple Mail Transfer Protocol(SMTP)
  • File Transfer Protocol
  • Application Penetration Testing

In Application Penetration Testing, penetration tester checks, if any security vulnerabilities or weaknesses are discovered in web-based applications. Core application components such as ActiveX, Silverlight, and Java Applets, and APIs are all examined. Therefore this kind of testing requires a lot of time.

Wireless Penetration Testing

In Wireless Penetration Testing, all of the wireless devices which are used in a corporation are tested. It includes items such as tablets, notebooks, smartphones, etc. This test spots vulnerabilities in terms of wireless access points, admin credentials, and wireless protocols.

Social Engineering

Social Engineering Test involves attempting to get confidential or sensitive information by purposely tricking an employee of the organization. You have two subsets here.

  • Remote testing – involves tricking an employee to reveal sensitive information via an electronic means.
  • Physical testing – involves the use of a physical means to gather sensitive information, like threaten or blackmail an employee.

Client-Side Penetration Testing

The purpose of this type of testing is to identify security issues in terms of software running on the customer’s workstations. Its primary goal is to search and exploit vulnerabilities in client-side software programs. For example, web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari), content creation software packages (such as Adobe Framemaker and Adobe RoboHelp), media players, etc.

For more information about Penetration Testing Certification Body and the role we can play in your efforts to achieve certification to it, feel free to contact us. To get started with the certification process, you can also request a quote.

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