The subject of cyber security testing is one that tends to get overlooked these days in terms of its importance, despite the fact that network and IT security are primary concerns for most business. The problem is that while the majority of site owners and business types will indeed protect their assets with solid security systems, it’s comparatively rare for any to actually put their systems to the test. Instead, they simply assume that when and where the time comes that they are needed, they’ll be more than good enough to get the job done. And while some may indeed ward off the attacks of outsiders, others will prove to be wholly flawed and of no real benefit whatsoever.
What’s so problematic about the modern way of doing business is the way in which websites are up and running 24 hours a day and seven days a week, which means they’re technically open to attacks at all hours too. For criminal types, the pickings have never been richer as with millions of online businesses up and running at all hours of the day and night, they’re effectively spoilt for choice in terms of who to attack. From the perspective of the smaller business, the chances of being targeted are comparatively low and with a bit of luck it’s a scenario you’ll never find yourself faced with. But just in case it is, there’s much to be said for being ready and well-protected against all eventualities.
The Value of a Penetration Testing
Web security experts have for some time being fighting tooth and nail to get the message across that pen testing can no longer be considered optional. Of course, getting the message to sink in is another story entirely, which is why it’s often more effective to speak of the value pen testing has for any given business in order to get across its key selling points.
It’s hardly the most expensive investment any business is ever likely to make, but what you take away from the deal is a quite incredible array of beneficial insights that could be nothing short of life-saving for your business.
Examples include:
- Getting a better idea of how likely you are to be targeted by hackers and assessing how simply it would be for them to access your private networks and data.
- Finding out where the current weaknesses are in your overall security system in order to help the implementation of the necessary measures to cover them.
- Gaining an insight into where you might be overspending needlessly on certain areas of security, where the money could actually be better invested in other areas.
- Helping the business get to grips with the reality of in-house threats which have the potential to cause much more harm than external hacks and security breaches.
- Planning for every imaginable contingency and setting a strategy in place should the worst ever happen.
- Being ready for the future by being able to pre-empt future hacks and hacking strategies by implementing forward-thinking security systems.
- Gaining a key insight into the way a hacker thinks and acts when going about their attacks, which can be crucially important information to consider when making future decisions.
Untested Systems
The problem with an untested IT and network security system is that you generally have no way of knowing whether or not it has any real chance at all of blocking an attack should one be directed your way. As such, you’re effectively rolling the dice with fate and making an assumption that could well bite you on the rear-end should your systems ever be put to the test by a party not hired by you for that purpose.
As was made pretty clear by the huge-scale hacks targeting Sony and Microsoft at the end of 2014, a network security system really only needs to have one bum link or gap in order for those wishing to gain access to do exactly that. And once they’re in, you’re pretty much at their mercy when it comes to what they decide to do with your data. They could take off with the personal information of your clients, they could steal your money or they could shut you down entirely – ask yourself in all such instances, how would you cope?
Testing isn’t only about finding fault with your network security systems, but coming up with the most suitable, affordable and efficient approach to perfecting your systems and preventing the unthinkable from occurring.