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Security should be a priority for any organisation. In addition to complying with the regulations, keeping an organisation secure is a way to ensure its sustainability. The first step to securing an organisation is assessing its capabilities in defending against attackers. An effective way to do this is to conduct a physical penetration test. 

A physical penetration tests is a simulated attack on an organisation, employing techniques commonly used by real-world organised criminal groups (OCGs).  They are a way to test the security plan of an organisation from an attacker’s perspective. As the name suggests, this testing approach focuses more on the physical security of the organisation. The test results will be used to develop strategies to improve the organisation’s security. 

How to perform a physical penetration test?

The first step to performing this test is forming, or hiring, a small team of people to conduct hostile reconnaissance or surveillance of the organisation’s building, as OCGs would often do. This team will gather information about current security procedures, routines of the staff and daily operations.

Based on the information, the reconnaissance team will identify security vulnerabilities. For example, the workers may leave a certain door open after the lunch break and the area around that door has heavy traffic. Attackers could use these doors to enter the building without the security guards noticing.

The team can also identify the level of exploitation that an atacker could cause cause and what data or items they can steal from the building. This comprehensive assessment makes the organisation more aware of the extent of damages it may sustain simply by leaving a door open.

Once the testing team identifies security risks around the organisation’s premises, it will develop a series of plans to test them. Team members may try to access certain areas of the building using various techniques. 

The time required to do the test varies. Organisations often conduct this test simultaneously with other assessments, such as a cyber penetration test and a social engineering assessment on staff. The business can then develop a training plan to educate staff to uphold the highest security standards.

An organisation that requires help identifying security vulnerabilities can work with security firms like Marengo. Such a service can give the organisation broader insights into its security needs and provide an exhaustive evaluation of the current system. They can also offer the organisation customised security solutions based on its specific needs.