Since cyber-attacks and data breaches are now so common, risk management in the company is a must. Black hat hackers should be nothing new to you if your business relies on sensitive computational data. Today, hacking has evolved into a shadowy profession, and black hat hackers may exploit even a slight weakness to access your system. According to the current OAIC research in Australia, data breach incidents in the United States are expected to rise by 5 per cent in the coming months. Penetration testing is a modern-day solution that many healthcare organisations, banks, and service industries are resorting to in response to the flashing red signal.
Table of Contents
What is a penetration test?
A penetration test is a test that looks for vulnerabilities in the system. It’s called a pen test since it’s done by someone who isn’t a hacker, yet can detect your system’s weaknesses and weak spots. A pen test on your data system may reveal whether or not your information is subject to hacking and data breaches, specifically. You will get a thorough report and an incident response rating after the exam. The latter gives you a sense of how quickly your system responds and reclaims from leaks.
Pen tests exist in three varieties, each with a somewhat different price and accuracy. Most people will choose the black box pen test since it’s the least expensive option. The only drawback is that the resultant information is very accurate and condensed due to the time limits. The other two varieties are white box and grey box tests, all of which follow a similar approach, although the white box pen exam is far more in-depth in its evaluation.
Perks of doing a security audit
A yearly pent exam is the least retardant if your company is in the complex and sensible banking and financial industry. Pen tests should be performed every three months for optimal results and to keep your security shield up to date. Testing for vulnerabilities using pen-tests might reveal what you’ve been missing about hacker strategies. In the end, the advantages are limitless! Out of everything, these are some of the more notable advantages:
Recognise issues that aren’t readily apparent
To provide a minimum defence against cyber assaults, regular audits, cyber security layers, and virus scans may help. On the other hand, a pen test detects any vulnerabilities in your security layer as soon as possible. An invading directory assault or DOS, for example, may have caused your web server to go down, and you would have had no idea. By doing a pen test that looks for access gains, you can protect yourself against directory and forgery attacks in the future.
Prioritise the dangers and pitfalls
There’s no way to know for sure if your system contains any security holes. If you’re doing a pen test for the first time or have done so in the past, your data system is vulnerable to several threats at the same time. Identifying the problems won’t assist much in these situations. When you do a pen test, you’re looking for more than simply weak points on your computer. Unprotected points are divided into three risk categories: low, medium, and high. As a result, the scenario is less tense, and you have a better idea of where to begin.
Avoid cyber intrusions that might be costly
When it comes to cyber assaults and data breaches, the cost is far more than you’d expect. Such incidents not only lead to the loss of confidential information, but they also cast doubt on your company’s image and future development. According to a recent study, the typical data breach in Australia costs $3.7 million. If your data is leaked or stolen, you may have to pay a ransom and risk losing customers. You gain third-party expert advice and higher business continuity rates with frequent penetration testing sessions.