The objective of network penetration testing is to discover any security vulnerabilities on a target's network infrastructure. This type of penetration test can be done either from outside the organization (external testing) or from the inside (internal testing). As a penetration tester, I would definitely recommend performing both internal and external security testing on the target's network.
The following are some objectives of network penetration testing:
- Bypassing the perimeter firewall
- Evading Intrusion Detection System / Prevention System (IDS/IPS)
- Testing for routing and switching misconfiguration
- Detecting unnecessarily open network ports and services
- Finding sensitive directories and information
Performing network penetration testing helps IT professionals close unnecessary network ports, disable services, troubleshoot...
