Why Penetration Testing is a need, not a want

Not all hackers hide behind screens, some wear hi-vis vests and want to be seen. 

With the number and severity of cyberattacks increasing, hackers are getting creative in how they hit you where it hurts. 

But not to fear, there are ways you can proactively keep your business and colleagues safe. Penetration testing (pen-testing for short) can identify your biggest vulnerabilities and help to prevent attacks before they even happen. 

SO, WHAT IS PENETRATION TESTING? 

Penetration testing is a layered process that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in your organisation to identify where the gaps are in your IT infrastructure. A variety of methods are used to try and break down your organisation’s defences to gain access to your systems.  

Some of these tests include, but are not limited to:  

• Vulnerability scanning – this involves scanning your network and devices for open ports  
• Exploiting known vulnerabilities in existing applications and systems  

• Brute force attacks which use trial-and-error to guess the login credentials of users 
• Social engineering attacks on employees  
• Red team attacks – these attacks go beyond the network to exploit a company’s physical security protocols. This might be someone in a hi-vis gaining access to the premises or leaving a rogue USB stick full of malware out in plain sight in the hopes someone plugs it into their device. 

Once the experts carrying out the penetration test have gained access to your systems, they will take action to access your sensitive data. Knowing a hacker’s potential next move means businesses can stay one step ahead.  

HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN BENEFIT FROM PENETRATION TESTING 

Penetration testing allows businesses to proactively find the vulnerabilities other security measures might not detect. For instance, firewalls may not pick up new exploits on an ongoing basis unless they are manually updated to look out for new threats. New threats are discovered constantly so relying on just one measure in isolation isn’t enough to protect an entire business. E.g. Factors such as user behaviour need to be factored in to change the mindsets of employees to create a strong security culture.  

Knowledge is power. By knowing your vulnerabilities, your business can put preventative measures in place, meaning your IT team can sleep easy.  

Want to learn more about pen-testing or have a few questions? Get in touch with us to book a chat with a pen-testing specialist by ringing on 0808 500 1436.