With each passing day there are new IT security threats that businesses and individuals must face. This state of affairs can leave many people feeling helpless, even if they have invested in measures designed to keep them safe from cyber attacks.
This is where penetration testing, provided by specialists like www.fidusinfosec.com, can be a huge benefit. But what techniques are used by testers and how will they hone in on previously undiscovered vulnerabilities?
Assessing Infrastructure
As cyber attacks cause economic damage of over $100 billion on an annual basis, with many occurring as a result of hardware becoming compromised remotely, it makes sense to look at network security first and foremost.
Penetration testing can focus on various infrastructural elements, using the same approaches as hackers themselves, to see where any weak points might be. This not only applies to on-site networking assets, but also any third party solutions that are in use.
Examining Apps
Software apps are another point at which breaches can potentially occur, hence the option to probe them with penetration testing and see whether their security is up to scratch.
The concept here is once again to root out flaws, while also checking that any systems that are in place to deflect attacks are actually able to work effectively in real-world conditions, rather than only being resilient in theory.
Ensuring Compliance
Failure to comply with industry standards for security, especially when it comes to handling financial transactions, can have serious ramifications for businesses.
Penetration testing can iron out any issues by scanning systems and analysing practices to pinpoint problems before they bear fruit further down the line.
Addressing Device Vulnerabilities
As data loss usually originates from misplaced devices rather than direct cyber attacks, there is no excuse for any organisation to ignore this glaring vulnerability.
Investing in penetration testing will let you learn exactly what might happen when hardware containing sensitive data is lost or stolen. That way you will see exactly how much of a disaster this would be and make changes to limit the damage that could be done.
Investigating Physical Security
Perhaps the most interesting and glamorous aspect of penetration testing involves assessing the resilience of an organisation’s on-premises security.
A request for testers to visit your site incognito and see just how much mischief they are able to cause can be made. This replicates the kind of location-based attacks that more and more cybercriminals are executing against businesses, giving you a prior warning about the extent to which such activities might be successful.
Embracing Scalability
Penetration testing packages are chiefly beneficial because they are incredibly flexible. Irrespective of the scope of the systems that are involved or the size of the site in question, testers can get to work and adjust their strategies accordingly.
This means that no organisation is excluded from harnessing the process, whether it is a local firm or a multinational. And with security spending set to top $96 billion this year, the savviest businesses will direct their investment towards preventative penetration testing.
