A Practical Approach to Stronger Defences
Robust network penetration testing best practices are essential for protecting your business.
Many organisations treat cybersecurity audits as a simple checklist, running a quick scan to satisfy a regulator. However, this approach leaves gaping holes that real attackers will exploit.
To defend against sophisticated cybercriminals, you need a strategy that goes deeper than surface-level scans. You need a methodical, expert-driven approach.
This guide outlines the essential standards you should follow to ensure your network is truly secure.
Why Network Penetration Testing Best Practices Matter
It’s easy to waste money on a low-quality audit.
If your provider simply runs an automated tool and hands you a PDF, you aren’t getting a penetration test, but a vulnerability scan.
Adhering to network penetration testing best practices ensures that your assessment simulates a real-world attack. It means that the testers look for logic flaws, linked vulnerabilities, and human errors; the very things that cause data breaches.
4 Non-Negotiable Rules for Network Pentesting Best Practices
To get the maximum value from your investment, ensure your security partner follows these core principles.
1. Define a Clear Scope
Before a single packet is sent, you must define what is being tested. Are you assessing your external perimeter (internet-facing assets) or your internal network?
- Asset Inventory: List all IP addresses and domains.
- Exclusions: Decide if any critical legacy systems should be off-limits to prevent downtime.
- Rules of Engagement: Establish testing windows and contact protocols.
2. Prioritise Manual Testing
This is the most critical of all network penetration testing best practices. Automated scanners are loud and dumb. They flag false alarms and miss the subtle logic flaws that a human hacker exploits in seconds.
You need testers who hold globally recognised certifications.
At 7ASecurity, our team holds top-tier credentials, including OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CISA, and OSCE.
These qualifications prove that your testers have passed rigorous, hands-on exams and aren’t just reading from a script. We emphasise manual penetration testing. We use human expertise to "test like the bad guys", finding dangerous flaws that machines overlook.
3. Test Regularly
Security is not a "one-and-done" task. New vulnerabilities are discovered every day. You should conduct a full penetration test at least once a year, or whenever you make significant changes to your infrastructure (like a server migration or network redesign).
4. Verify Your Fixes
Finding bugs is only half the job; fixing them is what matters. Ensure your provider offers re-testing.
7ASecurity provides free fix verification to confirm that your remediation efforts were successful.
Planning Your Assessment
Preparation prevents failure. Your test must align with industry standards to be valid.
For technical execution, your provider should align with global gold standards like the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) and NIST SP800-115. These frameworks ensure the testing is technically thorough, which is essential to satisfy auditors in the UK, Europe, and beyond.
Also, consider the "Grey Box" approach. While "Black Box" testing (no prior knowledge) simulates an outsider, "Grey Box" testing (partial knowledge) is often more efficient. It allows testers to spend less time guessing and more time finding complex vulnerabilities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good intentions, businesses often stumble. Following network penetration testing best practices helps you avoid these pitfalls.
- Scope Creep. Don't try to test the entire ocean with a bucket. It’s better to test your critical assets properly than to test everything superficially.
- Ignoring the Cloud. If your network connects to AWS or Azure, you must include a cloud audit. Modern networks are hybrid, and attackers will exploit the weakest link.
- Failing to Act. The report is not a trophy. It’s a to-do list. Prioritise the high-risk findings immediately.
The Role of Communication in Network Pentesting
A good penetration test is a collaboration. The testers should keep you informed of critical findings in real-time, especially if they discover a hole that puts you at immediate risk.
More importantly, the final report should be readable. It should contain an executive summary for management and technical details for your engineers.
Clear communication ensures that the business understands the risk and provides the budget to fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should we perform a network penetration test?
Best practice dictates at least once a year. However, industries handling sensitive financial or health data (PCI DSS, HIPAA) may require more frequent testing.
You should also test after any major network changes, upgrades, or if you suspect a breach.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
- A scan is automated and identifies potential matches against a database of known bugs.
- A pentest is manual and active. The tester tries to exploit those bugs to prove the risk.
Does penetration testing cause downtime?
It shouldn't. Professional testers take care to avoid denial-of-service conditions. However, we always recommend having backups and testing during lower-traffic periods where possible.
What is the difference between Black Box and White Box testing?
Black Box testing means the tester has no prior knowledge of your network (like an outsider).
White Box testing gives the tester full access and documentation (like an insider or admin).
Secure Your Future Today
Following network penetration testing best practices goes beyond appeasing compliance; it ensures your business survives. With so many aggressive cyberthreats around, a high-quality, manual penetration test is your best defence.
By defining your scope, prioritising manual expertise, and committing to remediation, you can close the doors on cybercriminals.
Stop relying on checklists, and start testing for real risks.
