Internet security testing is a valuable tool for increasing the protection and integrity of networks and devices within companies. This type of analysis is essential for companies that have an online presence or require digital tools to maintain their operations.
What often generates doubts is the level of knowledge required to perform this type of analysis. Due to the complexity of some tools, it may be necessary to seek the help of a professional in the field. However, there are security tests that can be performed by people who are not in the cybersecurity field .
However, first and foremost, we need to understand that internet security testing aims primarily to identify potential vulnerabilities or problems that facilitate access by unauthorized users. Such unauthorized access can cause immeasurable damage to companies. Conducting tests like this will contribute to your digital security strategy and help maintain the confidentiality of your information.
Identifying network vulnerabilities: the importance of internet security testing.
As mentioned earlier, internet security testing plays a fundamental role in your company's digital protection strategy . By enabling the identification of gaps and vulnerabilities, these tests will contribute to the protection of data and the integrity of information stored by the business.
Based on vulnerabilities found during security testing, managers and stakeholders can implement effective solutions to mitigate these threats and maintain cybersecurity within the company. Considering that many security problems stem from errors made by network and device users themselves, identifying these vulnerabilities is crucial to preventing future issues.
The significant increase in the number of cyberattacks worldwide highlights the constant need to strengthen security strategies in companies of all segments. This means that your business needs to leverage all the tools and resources available on the market to ensure superior protection.
Alarming statistics and the need for investment in cybersecurity.
Following up on what was said above, the world has been witnessing very worrying statistics regarding the number of cyberattacks that are carried out. These attacks cause immeasurable impacts on companies, such as data loss, interruption of activities, costs for data recovery, investment in working hours for full recovery from the damage, damage to the company's reputation, and much more.
In this sense, we can understand investment in cybersecurity as fundamental for all companies. Contrary to what was disseminated until recently, investment in protection tools is no longer an expense for companies, but rather an essential approach for businesses that wish to remain competitive in the market.
This is because, by investing in resources to protect your information and ensure data security, your company secures a differentiated position in the market , establishing a competitive advantage over the competition. Consumers will prefer businesses that demonstrate a legitimate concern for the confidentiality of their information, given that much of their confidential data is stored by companies.
According to recent research, we can see a significant increase in attempted scams and cybercrimes , which has motivated companies in all sectors to seek more efficient solutions for information protection. In 2022 alone, there were approximately 360 billion cyberattacks (not all successful) among companies in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A report by Fortinet shows that Brazil ranks second in the number of cyberattacks, with 103.1 billion attempts in 2022. Compared to 2021, there was a 16% increase in the number of attacks.
This cybersecurity research sheds light on the exponential growth in the search for security solutions developed to protect information. In addition to protection resources, various vulnerability tests have also been created to help your company stay protected.
Types of internet security tests
With the growing demand for solutions and tools to help keep data protected and strengthen companies' security strategies, various tests have been developed to help companies identify network and device vulnerabilities. These tests can help your company identify key vulnerabilities and implement solutions to enhance data protection.
It is important to remember that some of these tests may require specific technical knowledge for their execution and evaluation of results, making it necessary to have the help of a specialized professional to understand the available resources and evaluate the reports obtained.
Among the main internet security tests available on the market, we can mention:
Door test
Port testing is a tool used to check the availability of a specific port within network devices . It only works through a communication process between devices to determine which ports are open and which are closed.
Through this test, data packets are sent to a device and a response is awaited . If positive, it means the port is open and can connect and receive data; if negative, the port may be closed or blocked.
This test is used to identify network vulnerabilities, port accessibility, and connection problems between devices. For this reason, this test is very valuable in analyzing your company's network security.
DNS test
Although DNS is an extremely valuable resource that greatly facilitates internet access and navigation, it can also present flaws and vulnerabilities. These problems can hinder network connectivity within your company or impact the performance of your employees.
Understand how DNS can facilitate internet access:
Using a specific tool, it's possible to locate the best server for connection and establish superior performance on your company's devices and networks. The effectiveness of this test will depend on the tool used; it's necessary to find a resource that meets your business expectations and is practical to use.
Lumiun Lumiun DNS is a security and control tool developed to enable companies to implement a digital protection strategy through the network's DNS layer. It includes a free starter plan, allowing your company to begin its security and control journey through DNS filtering. This allows you to determine if this is the best solution for your business and if it meets the needs and expectations of your managers.
Malware defense analysis
Malware can cause a variety of problems for your organization, from device unavailability to the encryption of confidential information. For this reason, it is very important that your company establishes a strategy to defend against this type of application and ensure that it does not gain access to your devices.
Malware defense analysis will assess the level of protection your network has in place to prevent potential attacks and ensure beneficial outcomes. Tools that can perform this test send malware samples and evaluate the response, removing malicious data upon completion of the assessment.
These tests will help identify potential vulnerabilities and contribute to strategic decision-making aimed at strengthening digital security within your company . Knowing these vulnerabilities and flaws is fundamental for your company to implement solutions focused on differentiated protection, adding more value and intelligence to its processes.
Understanding the main internet security tests
As we saw above, there are several vulnerability tests on the internet that can help strengthen your security strategy . To help you choose the right tool, we have separated the main vulnerability tests on the internet that can help your company become increasingly secure. See below:
Shield Test: assessment of susceptibility and defense against attacks.
Shield Test is a tool developed to measure the susceptibility and vulnerability of your network to potential infection and intrusion attempts. Being an excellent alternative for verifying your company's security level against the installation of malware and malicious applications, this test should be one of the first to be performed within your business.
Shield Test performs a self-assessment of security by sending malware samples through the tool's servers. Although it uses samples of real malware that could infect your company's devices and networks, these are deleted at the end of the test, eliminating any risk to your business.
Being a comprehensive tool, this test is able to analyze various security aspects:
- Open door test;
- Virus and malware testing;
- DDoS defense test ;
- Information theft test.
Port testing: identifying vulnerabilities in TCP and UDP ports.
As we saw above, port testing is essential for identifying open and closed ports on your company's network . Testing these ports will help identify communication problems and vulnerabilities that could facilitate cybercriminals' access to your organization's networks.
In simple terms, ports are responsible for communication between devices and servers, serving as a fundamental resource for exchanging information on the network. Checking for open ports will prevent unnecessary exposure of your company's networks , reducing the risk of access by cybercriminals and malware contamination.
Port testing assesses which ports are most susceptible to cyberattacks and helps your company establish security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
It is equally important to test the company network for exposure of certain remote desktop servers operating on TCP port 3389. Given the high risk of ransomware attacks, the FBI has already issued a warning about the potential risks this exposure can pose to your company's networks.
Lumiun security test: analysis of harmful website categories
There are various types of content that, in addition to harming your employees' productivity, can also cause security problems for the company. Pages such as social networks , entertainment websites, gaming and betting platforms , and pages with violent or pornographic should be blocked to avoid any type of cyber risk within your business.
Lumiun's security test is based on DNS layer requests, identifying categories of websites that can or cannot be accessed by the company's network. By making access requests to websites within these categories, it is possible to determine which of these contents can be accessed and which cannot.
The main categories used by the test are:
- Phishing and online fraud;
- Malware and spyware ;
- Access anonymizers;
- Drugs and alcoholic beverages;
- Games and betting;
- Pornography and nudity;
- Violence, terrorism, and racism.
The importance of vulnerability test results
As important as conducting these internet security tests is accurately evaluating the results obtained. Based on the reports delivered by the assessment tools, it will be necessary to establish a cybersecurity plan that can address the identified vulnerabilities.
With the help of the data provided by the reports, your company's IT team will be able to evaluate the resources and tools used to establish more efficient and secure solutions for the organization. For this reason, it is necessary to conduct tests based on reliable and established tools capable of identifying vulnerabilities and contributing to your business's security strategy.
We need to understand that security testing, while extremely important, is not just a solution, but a stepping stone on the path to data protection . This means that even if all tests yield considerably positive results regarding your security strategy, it is not possible to guarantee a state of absolute protection.
It is crucial that your company establishes a proactive and adaptable organizational culture focused on security, always taking into account business needs and market changes. No matter how good the security tools used by the business are, new approaches may emerge, potentially exposing confidential information within your organization.
Optimizing your digital defense strategy involves a shift in organizational culture and the use of resources that can efficiently meet the company's needs.
Implementation of security measures
With the development of a security plan to correct the vulnerabilities found in the tests, it is time to implement these new measures. This implementation process should be planned and closely monitored in order to study its progress and determine if there has been any improvement.
Establishing constant monitoring of security resources is crucial to ensure your company remains protected against today's major cyber threats. Due to the increasing rates of cyberattacks against companies of all sizes and sectors, investing in security has become indispensable.
