Due to the widespread popularity of ecommerce stores as the primary shopping option, it’s a hotbed for cybercriminals. Using best practices for pen testing is therefore crucial for the developers.
The modern online shopping landscape is changing quickly. The need to safeguard customer information is growing more than ever. Safe online shopping environments secure online transactions. One excellent way to ensure safety is penetration testing. It is a test methodology where developers act like hackers.
They do this to identify any weak points in an ecommerce platform. This practice helps identify security gaps before hackers notice them. The method finds bugs, errors, and weak code structures. Testers use a variety of penetration testing types. They must observe the testing best practices and use the right frameworks.
What Testing Methodologies and Frameworks Do Organizations Use?
The penetration testing process is a practice used to find whether e-commerce tools have flaws. These flaws can cause serious security problems in e-commerce systems. They must be identified and corrected before cybercriminals take advantage of them. The testing team uses varying testing methodologies for this purpose.
Penetration testing aims to keep e-commerce platforms safe. Organizations should understand the various types of penetration testing. Each type checks different security components like wireless, web apps, and network security. These tests go through several penetration testing phases. The team must plan, discover, attack vulnerabilities, and create a report. Continuous monitoring in every pen testing phase is important to ensure all-rounded security checks. When the process is done correctly, organizations find all the system’s weak points. They also measure the strength of the security measures in place. This empowers organizations to find vulnerabilities before bad hackers find them. It ensures every defense is strong. Organizations must do regular testing processes to keep the ecommerce platform secure.
NIST SP 800-115
This is a penetration testing process that checks the safety of information systems. The method focuses on the technical part of the system. This penetration testing methodology guides teams on the areas to check. They use the testing framework to plan and decide the areas or issues to test.
The method lets them learn about the setup of the e-commerce platform. They use this method to discover security gaps through automated and manual testing. The method also tests exploitation vulnerabilities. This checks how easily the gaps can be used to access the system. The team generates a report once the testing preferences are completed.
OWASP Penetration Testing Methodology
OWASP tests the security of e-commerce platforms and integrated apps. The methodology helps find flaws in e-store tools and fix them. The method helps identify areas with weaknesses like APIs, and login. The system provides ideas on the types of threats that could be implemented through the gaps. It checks the level of vulnerability and how easily attackers can use them. The tool generates a report once the testing is completed.
Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES)
PTES is one of the popular types of penetration testing. This method is more detailed and provides fine-tuned outcomes. The methods let you set the testing goals and rules. It collects data that gives you insights on how to attack the system.
You can even create your defined attack scenarios. It identifies weak points and areas that can be exploited with ease. The system also provides a report about the level of damage weaknesses might cause. The system writes a report about the findings and suggests areas.
Information Systems Security Assessment Framework (ISSAF)
ISSAF is a guiding framework for penetration testing. It assists teams in doing the following:
- Plan for testing scenarios and assess the system before testing begins.
- Assess vulnerability gaps across the entire system.
- Test gaps that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
- Create test reports and provide action guidelines for sealing the gaps.
WSTG (Web Application Security Testing Guide)
WSTG is a penetration testing framework for testing web app safety. The system provides detailed guidelines that teams must follow. The framework gathers data and authenticates it. This ensures the data is not breached by unauthorized hackers. Furthermore, the framework manages each session including access control. It validates all input into the system.
Best Practices for Penetration Testing E-commerce Tools
Ensuring you follow the steps during penetration testing ensures effectiveness. Best practices drive efficiency and insights across the various penetration testing types. Here are the best practices that you should observe.
Understand the latest threats
E-commerce security threats keep evolving and changing all the time. Understand the type of threats you are dealing with. It makes it easier to choose the right testing methods. You cannot achieve accurate results when you test the wrong threats. Understanding the latest threats ensures your pen testing framework is effective.
Set your testing goals right
You cannot test right unless you know the things you want to achieve. Understand the structure of your entire system. This will help you know the type of testing you will do on each part. It helps you define the rules that will bring trustworthy results. Engage your team when setting the goals and rules.
Rank the threats based on the risks they pose
Your system does not face one type of danger. It faces multiple risks from various sources. Some of the dangers are more serious compared to others. Rank them based on the vulnerabilities and risks they carry. You can use danger ranking tools to discover this.
Test the integrated third-party services
Third-party services are not native to your system but are connected to it. Services like shipping and payment gateways are important in e-commerce. However, they can be a serious source of threat. You must be careful and test these services too. Ensure they are secure to prevent spreading their vulnerabilities into your system.
Combine automated and manual testing
Automated testing is fast and identifies most problems. This method has limitations and might miss some gaps and weaknesses. Manual testing helps you check every component closely. You will likely discover dangers that automated testing might have missed.
Do not interfere with your store operations
Vulnerability testing is useful but it should interfere with your ecommerce workflows. Due to this, you must be wise in choosing the right testing time. Analyze your system to determine the time with the least traffic. This timing prevents your system from crashing.
The Way Forward for Testing Teams
Penetration testing is a process that helps keep your e-commerce platform safe. You must choose the right penetration testing framework for the process. Understand what needs to be done and the issues under test. Use frameworks like SANS, OWASP, and ISSAF. Follow the guidelines to the point to ensure you achieve the best accurate outcomes.