Re: How to start a Pen Test Consultancy ?

From: Anders Thulin (Anders.Thulin@tietoenator.com)
Date: Mon Jan 10 2005 - 02:45:16 EST


vivek_ece_iitg@yahoo.co.in wrote:

> 1. What tests to conduct ?
> what all to check ? servers, routers, switches, applications, social engineering ??

   The customer decides -- but will typically rely on you to provide
a set of scenarios to choose from.

> 2. Time Span ?
>
> The ideal time span a pen tester should take to
> conduct an audit ?

   More important is 2. Terminology. When a customer asks you
to do a pen test, do they have the slightest clue, or are they
just repeating what the boss said, and he just repeated something
his golf partner said? Will you do the 'pen test' scenario just
because the customer uses that word? What if they asked for an
'audit' -- do *they* know what you mean by that word? Do you know
what *they* mean?

   Personally, I take 'audit' to mean the same thing it means
in the economical world: a check that the organizations follows
the rules it must follow and those it has set up for itself.
It's not looking for vulnerabilities, or trying to exploit them.
It's typically finding all IT security rules, and then check how
they have been implemented or not, and also if there is anything
that has been overlooked - that there should be rules for.

   Now that that is out of the way, 2. Time Span. So are you
doing a pen-test, a vulnerability assessment, an audit, or something
else? Typically, pen-tests and vulnerability assessments *must*
be finished and reported in good time before anyone exploits
the vulnerabilities that will be found.

> 3. What if my audit leads to a dos on their website ?

   Yes, what if? You, as a knowledgeable tester has, of
course warned the customer that testing does tend to find
flaws, and can cause systems to crash. Do they accept the risk?
And if they don't, do you still take it, or do you suggest
another approach for those particular systems?

> legal stuff ?

   That is a localization problem. It depends almost entirely
on where you are. India, I suspect -- in which case I can
only suggest that you get in touch with a legal advisor --
someone who knows the legal situation in India or the specific
state you are in.

> 5. Money ;-) ?
>
> How to determine a monetory equivalent for the
> pen test conducted ? i.e how to bill the
> customer ?? etc

   This is also a localization problem. What kinds of company forms
can you choose from, and what do they require? What tax rules
do you have to follow? Again, find someone who knows the country
or state where you plan to work from the 'starting a business'
point of view.

-
Anders Thulin anders.thulin@tietoenator.com 040-661 50 63
TietoEnator Telecom & Media AB, Box 85, SE-201 20 Malmö



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