Why does your business need penetration testing?

If you think that since you have not been hacked yet, your organization is completely safe, you might be wrong!

Being prepared for any upcoming problem is really important in any business, more so when cyber security is involved. When you are fully aware of the problems, finding solutions and fixing them becomes easier. Penetration testing is a good way to do that. This test detects IT security flaws in your system proactively, with the aim to identify and secure them before damage is done by hackers.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing or Pen-testing is a security process where you evaluate your computer system’s applications and check its vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. This test is an induced cyberattack that checks the strength of your web application security. It identifies the gaps in the systems and detects exploitable loopholes.

Pen-testers use a variety of methods to gain access to your systems, including:

1. Scanning networks and devices for open ports and vulnerable services
2. Exploiting known vulnerabilities in applications or systems
3. Brute force attacks against user accounts
4. Social engineering attacks against employees

Once pen testers gain access to your systems, they will attempt to exploit any vulnerabilities they find in order to gain control of your systems or sensitive data. This allows you to identify and fix these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by actual attackers.

Why Do You Need Penetration Testing Done For Your Business?

Penetration testing is more than just a vulnerability scan. They are designed to analyze the real-world effectiveness of existing security controls against a skilled attacker who might be using multiple attack methods to exploit a weakness. It allows you to patch any weak spots before an attacker finds them. Companies should perform penetration tests regularly to ensure their IT infrastructure remains strong and well-protected.

If you don’t do this test, you’re leaving your systems open to be attacked by anyone who knows how to exploit these vulnerabilities. Additionally, you could be violating industry regulations or can even face legal action if your systems are compromised and sensitive data is stolen.

Here are some reasons you need pen-testing for your business:

Prepare for the unknown

It is vital that all organizations engage in pen-testing to unearth unforeseen risks so they to be able to prepare better for any future troubles. Small businesses are high on the target list of hackers with over 40-50% of small businesses facing some form of cyber-attack in the US. If they are not well-prepared, then they could be forced to shut down completely.

First mover advantage

Being proactive is the key. Even critical vulnerabilities take over 100 days to be patched after they are detected. So, it is important for you to gain the first-mover advantage that penetration testing gives you to identify, patch, and fix vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can make a move.

Strengthen your cybersecurity plans

By recreating a real-attack situation, penetration testing reveals the strengths, weaknesses, and status of your security measures. With this test, you gain an invaluable outsider perspective on web application security. So, you can strengthen your cybersecurity strategy and risk mitigation plans, and understand areas that need strengthening and attention.

The cost of hacks is increasing

The cost of cybersecurity breaches and attacks is not limited to the monetary costs but the losses from downtimes, loss of brand image, poor network performance, loyalty, and most importantly, customers and their trust. These can affect your business in the long term. A data breach can seriously negatively impact your company’s reputation. Customers may no longer trust you with their personal data, and they may even take their business elsewhere.

By continuously detecting and monitoring web applications for loopholes, you can save costs and ensure the long-term sustainability of your business.

Save your valuable time

Nowadays, time equals money, so any loss of time due to such inactivity or breach can cost your company and those affected millions of dollars. It can easily destroy all your hard work. All this could quickly escalate to become an extremely expensive situation. It can also result in a loss of morale among the employees.

Conclusion

Penetration testing is a vital part of any business’ cybersecurity strategy. By identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, you can reduce the risk of a data breach and protect your business from financial damage. It can help you protect your data from cybercriminals, enhance your cybersecurity policies, and even help you land larger clients who are looking for evidence of due diligence.

Only one cyber attack could be the end of your business. You need to make sure you’re doing everything you can to prevent that. So, if you’re not currently performing pen-testing on your systems, now is the time to start!