The main difference between an external and an internal penetration test is the scope and location of the test within the target organization’s network.
- External Penetration Test: In an external penetration test, the ethical hacker simulates an attack from outside the organization’s network. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by external attackers who are trying to gain unauthorized access to the organization’s systems or network from the outside. The focus is on identifying vulnerabilities in public-facing systems, such as web applications, external servers, firewalls, and other internet-facing assets.
- Internal Penetration Test: In an internal penetration test, the ethical hacker simulates an attack from within the organization’s network. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by internal attackers who have gained access to the organization’s network, such as employees, contractors, or other authorized users. The focus is on identifying vulnerabilities in internal systems, such as internal servers, workstations, databases, and other assets that are accessible within the organization’s internal network.
Both external and internal penetration tests are important for comprehensive cybersecurity assessments. External penetration tests focus on identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by external attackers who are trying to breach the organization’s network from the outside. Internal penetration tests focus on identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by internal attackers who have already gained access to the organization’s network. By conducting both types of tests, organizations can assess their security posture from different perspectives and identify and address vulnerabilities from both external and internal threats.