Difference between Software Testing, Website Vulnerability, and Security Assessments
Software testing refers to the assessments done on a site to determine if it at par with the set design requirements that had been set initially for a process called verification and validation to confirm that there are no errors (Writer and Editor for the Yoursecondfifty Com/Magazine Mike Harwood, 2015). Website vulnerability, on the other hand, refers to the loopholes that are present on a website which may lead to its attack by hackers because of its weak structure (Chandola, 2014). Security assessments are tests applied to sites to conduct security checks in terms of configuration, modelling and code reviews. It allows for the determination of the structure of the current security status.
How to perform a website vulnerability and security assessment
After the creation of a website is it critical that as an expert, a website vulnerability test and security assessment are conducted. Determining the variations between these two may at times be difficult because of the activities involved. The vulnerability test incorporates a series of automated tools set to review a range of IPs to reveal any known irregularities using either open-source tools or readily available commercial tools. The systems that are usually involved include either the misconfigured versions or the unpatched ones. The process then provides a prioritized list in case of any vulnerabilities identified and the severity, depending on the software.
Use of planned attacks to identify vulnerabilities
Web applications always need to be protected meaning that the task of protecting them is a 24-hou task. One of the ways that a developer can use to prepare for such attacks is to apply a technique referred to as planned attacks to identify the vulnerabilities that may exist to mend them and avoid being compromised in future.
Spotting vulnerabilities in back-end systems and SQL databases
Back-end systems refer to the electronic applications that are used in a corporation’s back office to support activities such as inventory and order management. They are usually prone to risks if the security is not proper, making them an easy target. One of the techniques used to spot vulnerabilities in these systems is database probe, which scans and identifies the loopholes and gaps that are present using command line utilities. One of the utilities that can be applied is the Metasploit, which is used to accelerate the privilege levels, meaning that most of the threats will not meet the level thereby locking them out. SQL database injections can be tested by either pen test or scanning utilities. The tests are conducted by entering certain commands in line with a URL, where it will then be run on a back-end database. Attackers can get to the database by applying manipulation techniques on URLs and entering random characters that the SQL can identify as a single quote. It is there crucial that a developer applies the systems necessary to avoid the successful manipulations of the site data (Writer and Editor for the Yoursecondfifty Com/Magazine Mike Harwood, 2015).
Preparing a vulnerability and security assessment report
After performing a vulnerability and assessment test, the most challenging part becomes drafting a report on the same because of the need to present varying perspectives relating to risks and compliance. The sequence of the report should, however, be an executive summary followed by the findings and facts gathered from the vulnerability assessment, then those from the security tests and finally the recommendations and remediation.
References
Chandola, S. (2014). A Tour of Ethical Hacking: Perfect Guide of Ethical Hacking for Beginners. Sagar Chandola Publishing.
