How Long Does a Penetration Test Take?

Penetration testing, a crucial element of any robust cybersecurity strategy, simulates real-world cyber attacks to identify vulnerabilities in your systems before malicious actors can exploit them. The type of methodology used, such as black box testing or white box testing, can also impact the duration of a penetration test. Understanding the timeline for a pentest is essential, as various factors, including the complexity of your infrastructure, the scope of the test, and the target system or environment, influence it.

Penetration testing is paramount because it proactively identifies known and new vulnerabilities within your systems. Some frameworks and regulatory requirements mandate penetration tests to be conducted yearly, i.e. PCI DSS, NHS DSPT, DTAC. Organisations conduct pentests to uncover and address hidden weaknesses before malicious actors exploit them. It provides valuable insights into your security posture, enabling you to prioritise remediation efforts and allocate resources effectively.

⚡ This guide is part of our penetration testing guide.

Types of Penetration Testing

The landscape of penetration testing encompasses a variety of distinct methods, each tailored to address specific security concerns. Cyphere provides CREST-accredited pen testing across various areas, such as:

• Web Application Penetration Testing: Web app pen testing identifies vulnerabilities within web applications, APIs, plugins, and browsers. These components often handle sensitive data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. The primary goal is to find and exploit weaknesses that could compromise sensitive data stored on backend systems and databases.
• Internal Network Penetration Testing: Conducted within an organisation’s internal network, this method assesses internal security measures to safeguard against insider threats and unauthorised access. It is crucial for maintaining the integrity of systems that handle sensitive data and core infrastructure components such as Active Directory authentication and security policies.
• External Network Penetration Testing: Ethical hackers attempt to identify open ports and exploit weaknesses in an organisation’s internet-facing infrastructure. The goal is to pinpoint vulnerabilities in the perimeter defences that could be exploited by external attackers attempting to gain unauthorised access to the internal network.
• Wireless Pen Testing evaluates the security of wireless networks and devices. It identifies vulnerabilities, such as weak encryption protocols, unauthorised access points, and insecure configurations, that attackers could exploit to gain access to the network or intercept sensitive data transmitted wirelessly.
• Cloud Security Assessments: With the increasing reliance on cloud services, assessing the security of cloud environments has become essential. Cloud penetration testing evaluates the security controls of cloud infrastructure and applications, identifying potential risks and ensuring compliance requirements.

Another critical aspect of pentesting is the methodology used during the assessment. This is decided between black box, grey box and white box methodologies. White hat hackers tend to look at most throoguh reviews where they have prior knowledge supporting the understanding of the applications, source code or software or network. 

Factors Affecting Penetration Test Duration

The duration of a pentest can vary significantly depending on several factors. The scope of the test is a primary determinant; whether it’s an infrastructure pentest, web application testing, or wireless network testing, each type requires different levels of analysis and expertise. The complexity of the systems and networks being tested also plays a crucial role.

Additionally, the availability of resources, such as the number of consultants assigned to the project, can impact the timeline. The client’s specific needs and requirements, including prior knowledge of potential vulnerabilities, can also influence the duration.

How long does a penetration test take?

Several key factors influence the length of time required to complete a penetration test:

1. Scope of the Test: The type of test being conducted, such as network pentesting, web application testing, or wireless network testing, significantly impacts the duration. Each test type requires varying analysis levels, specialised techniques and use of manual and automated tools, and expertise. This element also directly affects the penetration testing cost proposed to customers.
2. Size and Complexity: The larger and more intricate an organisation’s systems, networks, applications, or APIs are, the more time-consuming the assessment will be. This is because of the trial-and-error approach to identify problematic areas where vulnerabilities exist in the scope. Extensive and complex infrastructures require additional time for thorough assessment and vulnerability identification.
3. System Architecture: The intricacy of the system architecture, including the presence of layered defences, segmented networks, or advanced security measures, can significantly affect the duration of the test. Complex architectures often require more time to navigate and identify potential weaknesses.
4. Experience and Skill of the Team: The expertise and proficiency of the pentest team play an essential role because experienced professionals can often navigate systems more efficiently and identify vulnerabilities more quickly due to contextual awareness.
5. Availability and Responsiveness of the Customer’s Staff: The cooperation and responsiveness of the customer’s project point of contact, who provides access to systems and assists during the process, can significantly influence the overall duration. Prompt availability of necessary resources and clear communication can expedite the overall timeline.
6. Security Controls Already in Place: The effectiveness of existing security controls to protect an asset from a cyber attack and security measures can affect the duration of the penetration test. Strong and well-implemented security measures may require additional time and effort to bypass, while weak or poorly configured controls could expedite the testing process.
7. Specific Cyber Threats Identified Beforehand: The testing team can focus on those areas if specific cyber threats or vulnerabilities have been identified beforehand, potentially reducing the overall duration. A targeted approach can streamline the testing process and improve efficiency.

Penetration Test Timeline

A typical penetration test timeline includes three main phases: planning, execution, and reporting. The planning phase involves gathering information about the application or system, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and developing a detailed test plan. Sometimes, timelines for penetration tests are accelerated with the use of multiple security consultants, increasing costs.

The execution phase is where the actual pentest takes place to identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities. The testing time of this phase can vary widely, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks. Factors such as the size of the application or system, the complexity of the architecture, and the number of engineers involved all influence the length of this phase.

The final phase involves documenting the findings and providing recommendations for remediation in a report detailing all the aspects of the testing conducted. This may take a few days to a week, mostly, or several weeks unless specific large programme requirements require more time.

How Often Should You Conduct Penetration Testing?

The frequency with which you should conduct penetration testing depends on several factors, including:

• Findings of Your Most Recent Report: If the most recent pen test report reveals high-risk or critical vulnerabilities, retesting should be conducted as soon as possible after remediation efforts have been completed.

As our commitment to reduce the risk for customer envornments, Cyphere offers free unlimited retests as part of the standard pen testing offerings. No questions asked!

• Changes to Your IT Infrastructure: It is strongly recommended that you conduct an exercise whenever significant changes are made, i.e. any migrations, upgrades, or refreshes that lead to substantial changes in the systems or services.

Conclusion

The duration of a penetration test is highly variable and depends on a complex interplay of factors. While balancing thoroughness with efficiency is important, rushing the process can lead to overlooked vulnerabilities and a false sense of security. Ultimately, the time invested in a comprehensive assessment is an investment in the security and resilience of an organisation’s systems.

If you’re considering CREST penetration testing services, it’s worth your testing time to explore reputable providers like Cyphere. Remember, the time spent on a well-executed pen test is a small price to pay for the long-term security and peace of mind it provides.