Being online increases your visibility to new clients and target audiences. However, it also makes your company vulnerable to hackers who may target your vulnerable applications. Sopra Steria uses penetration testing to identify and mitigate these vulnerabilities before they’re exploited. Curious how we work? Read on.
Dangers of skipping penetration testing
Modern hackers are relentless, using advanced automated tools to scan the entire internet for weaknesses. If your web application has any vulnerabilities, it becomes an easy target. That makes penetration testing critical for safeguarding your application before it goes live. Without it, your organisation faces severe risks:
- Data breaches: Vulnerabilities can expose sensitive company and employee data, leading to severe confidentiality breaches.
- System outages: Unaddressed vulnerabilities can be exploited to bring down systems, causing operational disruptions.
- Financial losses: Downtime and data breaches can result in substantial financial costs, from lost revenue to regulatory fines.
If your application goes live without a penetration test, it is always likely to be exploited. Ignoring penetration testing leaves your organisation exposed to significant and avoidable dangers.
Web applications are main focus
Web applications, such as systems for logistic planning, stock management, time registration and invoices dominate penetration testing efforts. Mainly 7 to 8 out of every 10 tests we do, are web applications. Unlike servers, which don’t change drastically within a year, web applications evolve rapidly, necessitating frequent evaluation to address vulnerabilities. Whether testing external or internal web applications, we highlight the critical need to fortify these platforms against potential threats in today's digital landscape.
Our way of working
Sopra Steria involves several crucial phases when doing a penetration test. It begins with the scoping meeting to define critical testing areas, discuss your requirements, and estimate testing duration. During reconnaissance, we analyse the application from a user's perspective, examining functionalities and data handling. In exploration and vulnerability identification, we simulate potential attackers' tactics to uncover weaknesses. Finally, the report provides you a thorough assessment of vulnerabilities, including their locations, descriptions, severity, and recommended fixes, ensuring actionable insights for improved security.
Different testing methods
Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks on your application to identify and address security flaws before it goes live.
Sopra Steria provides comprehensive penetration testing services using several methods:
- Threat Modelling & Architecture Review
- Code Review
- SAST (Static Application Security Testing)
- DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)
- Penetration Testing (Black box, grey box and white box)
- Black box testing
We assess your system without any prior information about it. - White box testing
If black box testing reveals no vulnerabilities, we proceed with white box testing, where we use login credentials to simulate potential insider threats. - Grey box testing
This is a middle ground where we test with partial information about your system.
The strength of Sopra Steria
We work by carefully assessing your specific needs. Our team consists of up to 20 certified experts in Belgium and Luxembourg, and up to 10 certified experts in Netherlands. This means up to 30 certified experts in Benelux dedicated to penetration testing, bringing a wide range of expertise and continuously updating their knowledge through regular inspiration sessions. This collaborative approach ensures that we stay ahead of the latest trends and techniques.
Act now to protect your business
Don’t know where to start? We’ve got your back. Experience robust security with our expert penetration testing services. Sopra Steria offers guidance on understanding, resolving and preventing vulnerabilities in the future. Contact us to schedule an assessment to ensure your online web applications are protected. Don't wait until it's too late – secure your web application with Sopra Steria today and safeguard your business from imminent threats. The time to act is now.
Tim De Brouwere - Offensive Security Technical Lead at Sopra Steria
Eric Bellière - Security Manager (RedTeam) at Sopra Steria