
Approach > Wireless Penetration Testing Methodology
Learn more about our methodology and the steps used in our Wireless Penetration testing engagements.
It’s uncommon nowadays for an organization to not have some form of a wireless network. But merely enabling wireless connectivity within an organization is not the same as deploying a wireless network. The differences in these tasks often lead to improperly configured environments, which can impact employees’ productivity, network security, or data present in the environment.
On its simplest of levels, a wireless penetration test can tell you which Wi-Fi devices exist within your environment and if your environment aligns with industry best practices. With more in-depth testing, an assessment can also examine the wireless infrastructure, performance, and security posture of an organization’s Wi-Fi network(s). Doing so helps you fully understand your company’s cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses.
RedTeam Security’s wireless penetration tests are all-encompassing. Beyond the rudimentary “unauthorized access” testing methodology other security organizations offer as part of a wireless assessment, RedTeam Security digs deeper by following the same overall methodology as all of our comprehensive penetration tests.
The information-gathering phase of a wireless network penetration test consists of network enumeration, identifying the SSIDs (network names) in scope and in range of your Wi-Fi network. Information gathering efforts result in a compiled list of metadata and raw output from automated tools to obtain as much information about the wireless network’s makeup as possible. This step aims to collectively map the in-scope environment and prepare for threat identification and modeling.
With the information collected during Information Gathering, security testing transitions to threat-modeling where assets are identified and categorized into threat categories.
The vulnerability analysis step in a wireless penetration test involves reviewing, documenting and analyzing vulnerabilities discovered as a result of information gathering and threat modeling. This includes the analysis of output from the various security tools and manual testing techniques leveraged in the previous steps. Vulnerability Analysis will include making a plan for exploitation and gathering exploits.
The Exploitation phase of a wireless penetration test involves establishing access to the wireless network, and potentially your internal network, through the bypassing of security controls and exploitation of vulnerabilities to determine their real-world risk. In a wireless penetration test, this also involves assessing the following potential areas of risk:
Throughout this step, we perform several manual tests simulating real-world attacks that are incapable of being performed through automated means. During a RedTeam Security penetration test, this phase consists of heavy manual testing tactics and is often the most time-intensive phase.
The reporting step is intended to provide actionable results to the project stakeholders. RedTeam Security will compile, document and risk rate findings and generate a clear, actionable report, complete with evidence, for project stakeholders. The report will be delivered through the customer portal and can be reviewed via online meeting if desired.
To perform a comprehensive real-world assessment, RedTeam Security utilizes commercially available tools, internally developed tools and some of the same tools that hackers use on each assessment. Our intent is to assess your wireless network by simulating a real-world attack.
Here at RedTeam Security, we understand that your organization’s security, performance, and productivity are too important to rely on simple guesswork. A security services vendor with a proven track record and experience in assessing all the critical needs of an organization’s environment, including their business goals, can be an invaluable partner. RedTeam Security offers a wide variety of assessments and consulting engagements to ensure your organization meets its goals while maintaining peak productivity.
Many CEOs and Executives have been quoted saying, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” This statement will forever reign true within any environment. So why not contact RedTeam Security today and allow us to help you identify your “unknowns”. Call (952) 836-2770 for a free consultation with a Penetration Testing expert today.
Testing a wireless network’s infrastructure, performance, and security is done through comprehensive penetration testing that goes beyond unauthorized access. A wireless penetration test with RedTeam Security includes real-world exploitation tactics used by cybercriminals to assess potential risk areas, including; rogue access point detection, encryption key and password strength, RF signal leakage, network segmentation, egress filtering, and captive portal testing.
Improperly configured environments are one of the greatest vulnerabilities to a wireless network. When wireless networks are enabled but not properly configured, wireless access points become an easy method of attack for cybercriminals looking to gain access to your network. This can impact network and data security, but it can also impact employee productivity and day-to-day operations.
A wireless vulnerability assessment is a security service offering that reviews an organization’s existing wireless network, looking at the environmental, architectural, configuration and installation factors that could impact the performance and functionality of the system that could weaken your security posture.
As a general rule, businesses should perform wireless testing twice a year. However, every business has a different objective and goal. Changes in compliance, new network infrastructure, and cyber security policies can impact how often the testing is needed.
To determine how often you need to perform a wireless pen test, start with a cyber risk assessment to check for security vulnerabilities and weak spots and how often your infrastructure, software, and security policies change according to your specific penetration testing execution standard. Also, external pen testing vs. internal penetration testing may impact how often the testing is performed.
Learn more about RedTeam Security’s advanced Application, Network and Physical Penetration Testing, Social Engineering and Red Teaming services.
Whether you are just starting your security journey or looking to take testing to the next level, securing your business is what we do, and we look forward to working with you.
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