Matthew BoyleIn an increasingly online world, digital transformation has become a crucial requirement for any business that wants to stay competitive.
But, it’s not always simple to understand. Digitizing crucial processes can frequently expose companies to a variety of fresh cyber security risks they aren’t accustomed to, possibly resulting in harmful breaches, attacks, and / or the loss of sensitive data if they’re not careful.
Any modern transformation initiative needs to be accompanied by a well-rounded cyber security strategy in order to protect against such threats.
Cyber security, however, is not a” one and done” activity; strategies must be constantly assessed and put to the test to maintain their efficacy.
Cybercriminals continually change how they attack, so cyber security must change as well. In only a few weeks or months, whatever works today will probably be out of date.
Regular penetration testing( pentesting ), which can provide businesses with a quick, accurate snapshot of the current state of their cyber defenses, is one way to stay ahead. In order to identify vulnerabilities, social hackers put themselves in the shoes of malignant actors at this point in time activity.
Normally, a network is probed, attacked, and researched using both humans and automated programs using different techniques and channels that cybercriminals are known to employ.
However, far too many people also don’t entirely comprehend how pentesting functions or how they can incorporate it into their overall security plan.
How has penitence evolved?
The days of covert, closed-door penetration testing are long gone. Back then, you had to rely on the abilities and schedules of typically large corporations, endure protracted waits, and have scant knowledge of the outcomes and testers’ actions.
Penetration testing has advanced considerably in modern times. It usually starts in a matter of days and is generally carried out more frequently on smaller scales. Modern platforms that provide real-time transparency into the testing process and a more equitable approach when bringing testers on board are to blame for this transformation.
Instead of proper education and certification, the focus is now on the outcomes and experience of the social hacking community. The output has even significantly improved thanks to the development of novel AI-based hacking techniques and the willingness to test source code.
Pentesting is a very effective way to find significant security flaws before they can be exploited, which is crucial for protecting sensitive data even though it may seem very difficult for the business involved.
But, penetration testing’s best feature is unquestionably its extensive coverage and documentation. Most of the time, vulnerabilities are found and documented as a result of its in-depth and meticulous testing, including information on how the bug can be exploited, its effect on an organization’s compliance, and suggestions for how to fix the problems.
Pentesting, in contrast to other unpleasant security engagements, enables organizations to test inside systems alongside unfinished applications, which is particularly helpful when a new product is announced or an organization is acquired.
utilizing pentests as a source of information for both current and potential security measures
Pentesting, as previously mentioned, is a wonderful way for companies to evaluate the effectiveness of their current security measures at that precise moment.
But, far too many organizations have a tendency to treat it as if it were the start and finish of the process, which it isn’t.
As valuable as pentests are, they are only beneficial if the results are converted into an efficient overall security strategy for the future. Pentesting is just a tool, not an approach.
The following should be included in a successful contemporary pentesting strategy:
1. Identify your top security priorities.
Businesses must first decide what they need to safeguard. Important assets should be prioritized based on the harm they would cause if they were compromised, even though it is difficult to always protect everything.
Typically, the top of the list will be highly sensitive information like proprietary IP, competitive and legal information, and personally identifiable information( PII ).
2. Obtain security buy-in from every employee.
Buy-in is necessary at all organizational levels, from the executive board to the front desk, for a green security culture.
Building a model where risks are shared and teams can scale snugly across the company is much simpler if every employee assumes responsibility for company security.
3. Use pentesting as a common point of contact with security
Typical penetration testing is an excellent way to encourage a more strategic security strategy. Organizations frequently aim to just meet the bare minimum requirements for compliance and think they are secure, which is a very risky strategy.
Contrarily, combining standard pentests with bug bounty programs offers a continuous feedback loop that enables businesses to quickly spot new flaws and fix them before malicious actors notice them.
4. Make effective cyber security a competitive advantage.
According to a new PwC study, 87 % of CEOs around the world invest in cyber security to increase customer trust. Data is the modern economy’s lifeblood, and digital trust is its soul.
A good security strategy can help organizations rapidly transform it into a proper differentiator for their brand, which is essential in highly competitive business sectors and industries.
The most effective cyber security measures can change swiftly.
Present business security is difficult. Reliance on IT is at an all-time high as more businesses embrace modern transformation and cloud computing becomes the new norm.
Therefore, also a minor data breach could possibly result in catastrophic effects. Additionally, attack surfaces have grown dramatically since they were only a few years before and are still expanding at an alarming rate.
The best practice for security teams is to think creatively and independently while coloring outside the box. In light of this, penetration testing provides much more than just a scan and unquestionably offers compliance requirements that go beyond tick boxes.
Organizations can prioritize flexibility and implement quick changes when necessary by creating a cyber security program that uses an efficient approach.
Organizations can hire an army of specialized experts to conduct pentests for governmental compliance and customer assessments by hiring social hackers. These experts can work around-the-clock to find vulnerabilities. Some businesses can afford to give up such a critical security advantage in today’s highly competitive and dangerous business environment.
