The Value of Penetration Testing For Your Network

Hackers need time and skill to get through a company’s cybersecurity measures, but in the current age of technology and advancement, it’s easier than ever. Organizations can find out exactly where their network vulnerability exists (what areas of their cybersecurity are weakest) by performing penetration testing.

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing is one of a selection of IT solutions that aims to improve cybersecurity by testing the safety of some or all of the components of an organization’s cybersecurity. These components can be applications, devices, networks, and physical security components.
Penetration testing acts like a real hacker, and therefore shows how a hacker would enter an organization’s system. When done right, penetration testing doesn’t just prevent a hack but shows how strong an organization’s cybersecurity is and even better, how to strengthen it.

Different types of penetration testing

• Web application
• Network security
• Physical
• Cryptocurrency
• Cloud security
• IoT (internet of things) security

Benefits of penetration testing

In the era of remote working, many people who are part of organizations may not be taking all of the steps necessary to prevent network vulnerability and will not have cybersecurity for themselves or their company. Many networks are more vulnerable than they are thought to be, and the cost of penetration testing far outweighs the costs of a hack, breach, and eventual system down.
More specifically, penetration testing can:

1. Find out exactly how current cybersecurity would hold up against various kinds of cyberattacks
2. Show how even low-risk vulnerabilities can go on to create serious damage at higher levels
3. Assess and then quantify possible impacts on business and operational functions
4. Detect risks that are more difficult to find via automated scanning of networks and applications
5. Judge how well the current cybersecurity performs under an attack
6. Quantify necessary further investment in cybersecurity
7. Pick the right additional cybersecurity

Penetration tests should never be one-off, but instead part of an organization’s ongoing efforts to keep their cybersecurity up to scratch. They should especially be done when the following happens:

• Network infrastructure is added
• Security patches are applied
• Applications or other infrastructure is upgraded
• User-end policies are modified
• New office locations are established (or people are working from home)

If you need info on what type(s) of penetration testing your organization would benefit from, want to know more, or have any inquiries on IT solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!