Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by
Pentesting your company’s network is an excellent approach to evaluating your organisation’s overall security posture and discovering possible weak points. In terms of cybersecurity audits, penetration testing is one of the most personal. A penetration (pen) test is defined as an approved simulated cyberattack on a computer system to assess the system’s security. It entails granting external cybersecurity specialists access to your most sensitive security information to run the test.
Choosing a pen-testing business might be difficult since many security firms provide these services at various price points. Using this guide, you’ll know what to look for in a pen testing firm.
Consider the Specialty and Your Specific Needs of the Pentesting Company.
Not all pentesting companies are equal, and not all pentesting companies are the best fit for your firm. Specialised pentesters are in demand. It’s common for pentesting businesses to provide social engineering and online application testing. You’ll want to work with vendors with extensive experience in the important areas of your business. If you’re looking to have a web application evaluated, you wouldn’t want to work with a firm specialising in social engineering.
Verify That the Members of Your Team Have the Required Credentials.
Check the qualifications of the person inspecting or servicing your gas meter before allowing them inside your house. When it comes to doing a pen test, nothing should be different. When looking for a penetration testing company, look for one that has people qualified by a well-known certification body. PenTest+, Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) are some of the most well-known, recognised pen testing credentials.
Pen-testing expertise in various sectors and contexts is critical, as is familiarity with current IT systems in the firm in the issue. They are not limited to a single business shows that they can work in a wide range of settings and circumstances that are not often associated with the security sector.
Ascertain the existence of a reporting cycle.
As a result, the organisation’s ability to provide an accurate report is critical in any penetration testing partnership. Before the testing, this must be agreed upon. This report offers precise, actionable results for the testing itself and clear, concise, and actionable following measures to remedy the uncovered problems.
In addition, their advice must be specific to the intended audience. As an example, C-suite executives, for example, need to be aware of the danger of an issue detected widely. Still, they do not need a thorough technical version — although security and IT teams require it.
Create a Safe Environment for Data During and Following the Test.
The information gleaned from a pen test is, needless to say, entirely private. When a company is subjected to a pen test, critical security flaws and holes and well held corporate secrets are exposed. Only authorised members of the pen-testing team should have access to this sensitive information.
Final Thoughts.
Penetration testing is a complex and unpleasant process for both the testers and the subjects. Due diligence must conduct on both parties of the transaction: As a result, pen-testing businesses must do it methodically and comprehensively to maximise value. Organisations looking to collaborate with pen-testing teams must make sure they choose the one that meets these requirements criteria.
