Why does every company need pen testing now more than ever?

In today's digital age, cyber threats are on the rise, and businesses are constantly at risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. With the proliferation of cloud networks and mobile devices, the attack surface has grown significantly, making it easier for attackers to find and exploit unknown vulnerabilities. This is why every company needs pen testing now more than ever.

Penetration testing is vital in identifying potential vulnerabilities before they become critical data breaches. It can help businesses evaluate their defenses, identify software vulnerabilities or configuration weaknesses, and provide greater visibility into current security practices and potential weak points.

Moreover, vulnerabilities that are left unaddressed can have significant financial, legal, and reputational consequences for businesses. When breaches occur, companies can face lawsuits, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust, damaging their bottom line.

In addition, as regulatory frameworks around data privacy and security continue to evolve, companies are under increasing pressure to demonstrate compliance with these requirements. Penetration testing can help businesses meet regulatory standards and prove they are taking the necessary steps to protect their sensitive data.

In short, with the constant threat of cyberattacks and the potential consequences of data breaches, every company needs to invest in regular pen testing to ensure their defenses are up to par and to minimize the risk of costly and damaging security incidents.

Why do all organizations need pen testing?

The global market for penetration testing, commonly known as pen testing, is currently valued at over $1.8 billion and is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.97% over the next five years.

This investment is well justified due to the growing attack surfaces in cloud networks and mobile devices, making it easier for attackers to identify and exploit unknown vulnerabilities. As a result, effective pen testing has become a critical requirement for businesses of all sizes to identify potential security problems before they escalate into major data breaches.

In this context, it is important to understand why pen testing has become a priority, the process behind it, and how companies can optimize their pen testing efforts.

As part of the vulnerability management process, companies assign a common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE) number to any vulnerabilities discovered and used the common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) to determine the level of risk posed by the vulnerability. CVEs with scores of 9 or higher are deemed "critical," while those with scores between 7 and 8.9 are classified as "high," and both have the potential to cause significant damage if exploited.

According to data from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), in 2021, out of the 20,158 vulnerabilities reported, more than 4,000 (20.2%) were rated as "high" or "critical." It is important for IT teams to identify and address these vulnerabilities as early as possible to minimize the overall risk.

How does penetration testing work?

Penetration testing is a comprehensive security assessment process that involves simulating cyberattacks on businesses to identify software vulnerabilities or configuration weaknesses. It is typically used in conjunction with other security tools, such as web application firewalls (WAFs) and intrusion detection systems, to provide a holistic view of current security practices and potential weak points. By testing the effectiveness of an organization's security measures, penetration testing can help businesses proactively identify and mitigate security risks before malicious actors can exploit them.

What are the types of penetration tests?

There are several types of penetration testing that organizations can use to evaluate their security posture. Each type of penetration testing is designed to evaluate specific aspects of an organization's security posture and can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of its security controls.

Penetration testing involves different types of assessments to identify vulnerabilities in a system or application. One such type is internal penetration testing, which focuses on assessing the impact of any potential insider compromise. Staff with access to critical applications can present a risk to organizations, and internal pen testing provides real-time insight into applications or systems that are at risk.

On the other hand, external penetration testing targets visible assets such as company websites, email servers, or web and mobile applications. Penetration testers go after these targets to find weak points and compromise key data or services.

Blind penetration testing involves teams that do not know when or how pen testers will attack. This type of testing better simulates actual risk by forcing teams to see how well current security measures fare against cyberattacks.

Another type is targeted penetration testing, which assesses a specific system or application and finds its weak links. For example, a company that has just purchased a new CRM tool can use targeted penetration tests to evaluate the security of this tool before it gets pushed out to all users. By assessing the security of a specific system, targeted penetration testing helps organizations identify vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to mitigate risk.