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In a world where cybercrime continues to cost US businesses trillions of dollars every year, it’s no surprise that increasing numbers of firms are tightening up their security. Penetration testing, where companies work with cybersecurity experts to assess vulnerability from an attack perspective, is becoming particularly popular.
However, physical penetration testing takes assessments beyond the digital realm. Safeguarding physical access points and assets are just as important – and physical penetration testing can help businesses find weak areas in need of protection on-premises.
In this guide, we explore what physical penetration tests involve, some popular testing methods, and why this type of analysis is so important.
What is a Physical Penetration Test?
A physical penetration test helps businesses and organizations find security vulnerabilities on physical premises and within their controls.
Much like how penetration testing works, physical assessments simulate attacks to uncover weaknesses in security protocols.
The idea is to give business owners accurate, real-world insight into what potential cybercriminals might do with their physical security and what they could do once inside. Essentially, the process is an authorized, controlled hack or attack. The business operator is aware of the attempt, and the tester(s) carry out attacks to improve security.
Physical Penetration Testing Process
The physical penetration testing process can vary depending on a client's requirements. However, the concept is much the same: gather information, plan an attack, and then test. After testing, record and report any vulnerabilities found so that the client can make changes.
Typically, a physical penetration test can involve bypassing locks, gaining access to server rooms, and even tailgating authorized personnel.
Here’s a general overview of the typical physical penetration process and what each step entails:
- Reconnaissance: This first stage entails gathering information on the client being tested. This can include mapping out access points, a floorplan of an area to be attacked, and to find out more about types of locks, doors, windows, access panels, and personnel on guard.
- Scoping: At this stage, testers carefully consider the tools and strategies they need to use to access certain areas of a client’s building. This stage of the process will usually involve collaboration with the client to glean useful information.
- Testing: The test itself is a controlled break-in or attack, where testers attempt to exploit physical barriers or locking mechanisms and effectively break into the test subject. Testers will record the methods used, to what extent, and what they were able to retrieve during the process.
- Reporting vulnerabilities: During the last stage of physical pen testing, experts will report their recorded vulnerabilities to the client. They will make suggestions with regard to immediate fixes and ongoing remediation.
This process may be longer or more detailed depending on the client's specific needs, such as whether they need more intensive protection or planning due to the high-profile data stored.
Methods Used in Physical Penetration Testing
Physical penetration testing can also change shape and form depending on the assets and access points available from case to case.
Here are a few of the typical testing methods used by physical pen testers throughout the process, from recon to reporting.
- Lock picking: Whether picking physical locks or hacking digital access points (such as those which use biometrics), this is a common method of entry attempt that allows many testers into unsecured premises.
- Badge cloning: In the case of access control requiring code scanning or presentation of ID, hackers can clone badges to gain “authorized” access.
- Social engineering: Where testers and attackers use techniques to gain the trust of employees, sometimes using bluffing or taking chances to suggest they’re genuine personnel. The aim is to gain legitimate access through illegitimate means.
- Tailgating: A type of social engineering where a tester may “piggyback” or follow authorized personnel into buildings or sensitive areas without needing to scan or present ID.
- Fake deliveries and interviews: Where testers pretend to be making deliveries or applying for roles at the target company, and thus gain entry to specific areas.
- Emergency contracting: Some testers may present themselves as IT or security experts offering out-of-hours support for emergency issues.
There are also multiple tools used in physical penetration testing – such as RFID cloning, lock picking, and wiretapping technology.
Benefits of Physical Penetration Testing
Physical penetration testing is important for various businesses that hold sensitive or highly valuable information. For example, data centers, banks, retail stores, healthcare depots and clinics, manufacturers and factories, schools and colleges, and large-scale corporations all stand to benefit.
The main reason for this is that – while protecting your data and sensitive assets with cybersecurity is a must, physical security is just as crucial to safeguard. Physical penetration testing helps businesses to understand where there might be flaws in their perimeters, and how they can improve their approach to security.
Beyond this, physical pen testing also proves valuable in supporting employee training and security awareness. For example, a pen tester using social engineering can effectively help business owners spot where there are knowledge gaps.
What’s more, pen testing on physical sites can also help businesses to reinvest their budgets in more effective access prevention and data breach strategies. Physical security incidents reportedly increase by as much as 28% year-on-year. There’s no excuse to avoid investing time, money, and effort in boosting physical security.
Comparison to Other Penetration Testing Methods
Physical hacking is just one of several different types of penetration testing commonly used to support security across the US. Here’s a quick breakdown of how physical pen testing compares to other penetration testing methods and where each are commonly useful.
| Type | Focus | Objective | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Penetration Testing | Bypassing physical security systems and controls | Identify weaknesses in physical locks, access controls, and employee training / awareness | Impersonating authorized employees / personnel to access physical data centers |
| Network Service Penetration Testing | Running programs and tools to break into private networks | Identify and analyze weaknesses in networks and connected devices | Breaking into a client network to attack routers and servers |
| Web Application Penetration Testing | Attacking public-facing, online programs and portals | Identify security vulnerabilities in web application code available to the public | Forcing password attempts to gain access to sensitive internal data |
| Wireless Penetration Testing | Breaching wireless connections between devices (e.g., via WiFi) | Identify the strength of connected routers and physical devices on a network | Hacking into routers to gain access to other network devices, such as PCs and printers |
| Social Engineering Penetration Testing | Exploiting human knowledge and access through confidence tricks | Identify and assess employee training needs and knowledge gaps | Email a seemingly legitimate request to personnel which harvests data such as passwords |
| Cloud Penetration Testing | Assessing and exploiting different apps, devices, and systems on a shared cloud platform | Identify areas of weakness in third-party apps and services (such as storage solutions) that could put clients at risk | Hack into cloud apps by inserting malicious code and retrieving sensitive data |
| Mobile Application Penetration Testing | Attacking applications specifically developed for certain mobile platforms, such as iOS and Android | Assess potential flaws in public-facing apps that could leave developers weak to typical hacking attempts | Brute-force attack login systems to gain unauthorized access to user accounts |
Conclusion
Physical penetration testing is an invaluable source of support and confidence for business operators that want to improve their on-premises security. It’s ethical hacking that helps operators see their security posture through the eyes of would-be criminals – those who specifically try to physically break in!
If you’d like to know more about other types of penetration testing services and how they could help you make your strategies more robust, get in touch with the VikingCloud team today!
FAQ
Let’s finally explore some key points about the cost and duration of physical penetration testing.
How Long Does a Physical Penetration Test Take?
Physical penetration testing can take up to six weeks to complete. These timescales may vary depending on the scale of the tests required, where physical assets are located, and how much effort and expertise are needed. It’s always wise to ask an expert for a custom quote.
How Much Does Physical Penetration Testing Cost?
The cost of penetration testing for physical assets can reach as much as $20,000. The costs involved with testing increase depending on the tools and scope required, and the location of physical testing premises. A reputable penetration testing firm will always discuss custom pricing with potential clients.
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