Top 5 Penetration Testing Methodologies and Standards

Updated: December 3rd, 2024
6 mins read
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Penetration testing methodology systematically simulates real-world attacks on a target system or network to identify vulnerabilities and potential security breaches and assess the system’s security posture and resilience against various attack vectors.

Choosing the right methodology is crucial for performing an effective penetration test on the assets to help maintain high-security standards.

Penetration Testing Methodologies and Standards

OWASP

OWASP, or the Open Web Application Security Project, is a widely used standard or methodology for testing web applications that not only focuses on application-level vulnerabilities but also accounts for logic errors in processes. 

It provides a list of checks for various vulnerabilities, such as SQL Injection, security misconfigurations, insecure web app design, and more.

OWASP ensures that web apps are resilient against common attack vectors and helps organizations maintain regulatory requirements for industry standards like GDPR, PCI-DSS or ISO27001.

Who Needs OWASP?

Organizations in e-commerce, SaaS or finance industries that generally depend on web applications benefit the most from OWASP standards to maintain their operations and meet compliance.

NIST

NIST, or the National Institute of Standards and Technology, proposes a framework under Special Publication 800-115 on regular penetration testing of assets. Unlike OWASP, NIST focuses on IT infrastructure and network security. It helps ensure that all layers of IT security are thoroughly assessed and compliant with globally accepted standards.

NIST proposes a robust methodology for the continuous testing of networks and endpoints and meets compliance with standards like HIPAA, FISMA, and FedRAMP.

Who Needs NIST?

Government Organizations or businesses providing services in industries like healthcare or finance benefit from using NIST to maintain federal regulations and uphold high security.

top-5-penetration-testing-methodologies-and-standards

OSSTMM

OSSTMM, or Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual, is a scientific approach to penetration testing across various domains, including wireless and physical security. It goes beyond the basic penetration test and evaluates the overall effectiveness of the organization’s existing security posture.

OSSTMM evaluates both digital and physical security controls to strengthen the organization’s security posture and maintain various industry compliances, such as ISO27001 and COBIT.

Who Needs OSSTMM?

OSSTMM helps organizations with complex security needs at a large scale, not just with vulnerability identification but also provides them with an understanding of how effective their current security measures are and actionable steps to update them wherever needed.

PTES

PTES, or Penetration Testing Execution, is a penetration testing methodology crafted by a team of information security professionals that covers everything from per-engagement to post-testing report. It is a flexible method that can be applied to various pentests, whether they involve application networks or systems.

PTES provides a repeatable framework that ensures consistency in all the phases of penetration testing and helps comply with regulations like SOX, PCI-DSS, or GDPR.

Who Needs PTES?

Organizations that require consistent and regular penetration tests and are in industries like finance, insurance, etc., that have regulatory demands benefit from following PTES.

ISSAF

ISSAF, or Information Systems Security Assessment Framework, is a penetration testing methodology that covers both defensive and offensive techniques for assessing the security of various applications, networks, and information.

ISSAF provides a robust defense strategy against cyber threats and meets compliance requirements for standards like ISO27001, ITIL, and NERC CIP.

Who Needs ISSAF?

ISSAF greatly benefits organizations in industries like finance, healthcare, defense, or others that require a holistic understanding of their security posture, from personnel to systems.

Also Read: Explore everything you need to know about Pentest – Read the full guide.

Common Stages in Top Penetration Testing Methodologies

Pre-Engagement and Planning

The first step is always planning and setting up the testing environment for the penetration test. Then, you define the scope of the test and establish clear objectives to ensure that the organization’s security requirements are met.

Intelligence Gathering

To conduct proper reconnaissance and gather intel on the systems, various automated and manual tools, such as Nmap, Wireshark, and Recon-ng, are used to check the system for potential vulnerabilities or entry points.

Vulnerability Analysis & Exploitation

Once the target’s information is gathered, testers can analyze it to look for threats and vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are then exploited to understand their full impact on the assets and the potential damage they can cause. Each of these vulnerabilities and the results of their exploitation are documented in a report, and each is prioritized by severity.

Solution Development.

Once all issues are identified, it is time for the developers to step in and mitigate all the threats and remove these vulnerabilities. Possible mitigation solutions could involve patching, reconfiguring, or completely replacing the implemented security measures.

Report Drafting & Certificate Issuance

The final step in a penetration test is to generate a comprehensive report that includes all the findings and steps for mitigation. A good report will be jargon-free and cater to the organization’s technical and executive needs. A certificate is then issued that states that the organization has successfully gone through a penetration test.

pentest certificate by Astra Security
Example Pentest Certificate by Astra Security

Importance of Penetration Testing Methodologies

Standardization

These methodologies provide a standardized process of systematic penetration testing to ensure it is effective and produces reliable results. It helps organizations track their security progress by comparing past results and maintaining significant growth.

Compliance

These methodologies help organizations meet regulatory requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO27001, etc., by meeting the specific and thorough testing required for each compliance.

In-depth Security Assessments

These methodologies help organizations conduct extensive and practical penetration tests that cover all possible aspects and scenarios. This provides a holistic view of the organization’s security posture and helps generate mitigation strategies.

Hacker-style penetration testing by Astra Security

At Astra, we offer manual & automated penetration testing with our one-of-a-kind Pentest Suite. We follow OWASP penetration testing methodology for our hacker-style manual pen tests.

Our automated scanner lets you take the reign of your system’s security. You can conduct vulnerability discovery (with 8000+ tests) with a click of a button with this scanner. It shows results in real-time, that is, as the scan progresses. So that you don’t face the slightest of delays in fixing the vulnerabilities.

Astra's pentest scanner
Vulnerabilities flagged by Astra’s Pentest Scanner

Astra’s Pentest also simplifies tedious vulnerability management for your developers. You can add your team members and developers to Astra’s collaborative dashboard where they can directly collaborate with the security researcher on the reported vulnerabilities. You don’t have to hit your head while iterating to and fro.

You also receive detailed steps (including video PoCs, Selenium scripts, etc.) on reproducing the vulnerability so that you don’t have to guess where to find it.

Our security researchers go the extra mile to assist your developers with remediation. You also get detailed steps to fix it.

Final Thoughts

Penetration testing methodologies play an important role in an organization’s security posture management. By following these methods, organizations can maintain their security standards, meet regulatory requirements, and, in turn, grow their stakeholder trust. 

Choosing the right methodology for your organization is important to ensure a thorough assessment of all systems.

FAQs

1. What is a Penetration Testing Methodology?

A penetration testing methodology is a combination of processes and guidelines according to which a pentest is conducted.

2. Why Are Penetration Methodologies Important?

Pentesting methodologies are important because they create a definitive path to follow during a pentest which makes the process more efficient and effective.

3. What are the top 5 penetration testing methodologies?

The top 5 penetration testing methodologies are OSSTM, OWASP, NIST, PTES, and ISSAF.