8 Pros and Cons of Penetration Testing
Reading Time: 4 minutesPen testing can be a costly business: we weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of it so you can come to a decision that’s right for you.
Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is the process of staging cyberattacks against your system to expose vulnerabilities. White-hat hackers typically execute it for business clients.
Various organizations, from mid-level enterprises to global corporations, incorporate pen testing into their security practices. Although effective, pen tests also present risks. So, to help you assess whether they will support or damage your IT infrastructure, let’s weigh up the advantages and disadvantages pf pen testing.
What Are the Advantages of Penetration Testing?
Although hiring a hacker to exploit your IT infrastructure might seem absurd, you should keep an open mind. Pen testing offers several cybersecurity benefits.
1. You’ll Gain New Insights Into Your Security System
Pen testing gives you new insights into your IT infrastructure. Vulnerability assessments transpire within your security perimeter, so they typically show recurring issues. Alternatively, pen tests exploit loopholes and hidden flaws. Cybercriminals won’t hesitate to take advantage of every issue your company overlooks.
Also, avoid relying on old data for security audits. While they’re crucial for drawing accurate report analyses, effectively revamping database security systems requires new insights. Keep up with the trends; otherwise, criminals might take you by surprise with unexpected tactics.
2. Understanding Hacking Methods Helps You Combat Them
System assessments and maintenance updates depend on theoretical insights. If your IT department lacks real-world experience, your security infrastructure might not hold up well against actual cyberattacks. Routine scanning generates insights from historical data, after all.
To achieve more customized, functional security assessments, implement pen testing methods. They simulate hacking attacks and so ruthlessly scrutinize your IT infrastructure to determine which weak spots arise during specific instances.
Target your vulnerable ports. It is better for your testing team to spot issues during the testing phase than it is for criminals to exploit them. Address your weakest security links immediately.
3. Replicating Hacking Methods Tests Your System’s Limitations
Mimicking cyberattacks prepares you for real-world hacking attempts. Not only will you improve your defenses, but you’ll also establish proper emergency actions for data breaches. Damage mitigation is equally important as data protection.
You can also prepare employees by discussing their roles in promoting cybersecurity, providing helpful resources, and creating a simple action plan. Make sure that everyone knows how to deal with attacks.
4. Positive Pen Testing Results Boosts Reputability
Cybersecurity is crucial in any industry. Regardless of the nature of your business, you’ll likely carry various pieces of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), from your customer’s banking details to your employee’s salary information. Overlooking cybersecurity flaws endangers your company and everyone involved.
To boost your trustworthiness, prove your security. Show customers and investors that you prioritize data privacy by incorporating pen testing into audits, addressing weak links, and establishing feasible data recovery plans.
What Are the Disadvantages of Penetration Testing?
Haphazard pen tests compromise your IT infrastructure instead of securing it. Carefully assess your cybersecurity system first. If the risks far outweigh the potential benefits, implement another security testing method.
1. Pen Testing Exposes Your Weaknesses to Third Parties
Pen testing methods occur outside your security perimeter. And unlike other assessments, they require the aid of third parties (i.e. white-hat hackers). Their job is to exploit weaknesses that your IT team missed.
Although legal ethical hackers respect client confidentiality, you can’t blindly trust every pen testing service provider. Thoroughly vet your prospective white-hat hackers. Check if they come from a reputable cybersecurity company; screen their professional backgrounds; and assess the scope of their services.
Don’t proceed with pen testing unless you wholly trust your partners. Ensure that they would neither leak your company’s vulnerabilities nor withhold critical vulnerabilities for personal gain.
2. Insufficient Testing Yields Inaccurate Results
The results of your pen tests are directly proportional to their scope. Less comprehensive methods produce limited data, while sophisticated variations give you in-depth analyses.
Many companies choose the former to avoid overspending. But since criminals continuously develop new cyberattacks, insufficient testing will only waste your resources and give you a false sense of security. Some hackers will still fall through the cracks unless you test for every possible route.
Despite the advantages of comprehensive pen testing, it’s not always an accessible, practical solution. They require sizable financial resources. Even if you conduct extensive testing, it won’t benefit your organization unless you maximize the results.
3. Poor Execution May Further Emphasize Insecurity
Unlike vulnerability scanning tools, which scan for errors, pen testing methods exploit them. If your white-hat hacker doesn’t take the necessary safety measures, they could damage your IT infrastructure. Careless implementation causes issues like:
- Data breaches.
- File corruption.
- Malware distribution.
- Server failure.
To prevent unforeseen accidents, set up an extensive risk management system before implementing pen tests. Just prepare for an increase in your overhead. The costs might hurt your profit margins, but it’s a small price to pay for the security of your company’s database.
4. Frequent Pen Testing Is Costly
Implementing pen testing is expensive. Packetlabs, a cybersecurity service provider, says that penetration testing methods cost $5,000 on the low end. Meanwhile, larger companies spend upward of $100,000. Considering the frequency of these routine assessments, small to mid-level enterprises might drain their financial resources.
If you don’t have enough funds yet, skip pen tests. Only consider investing in them once your potential data breach losses exceed your IT infrastructure maintenance costs. Explore other cybersecurity practices in the meantime.
Does Your Organization Need Penetration Testing?
Whether or not penetration testing suits your organization depends on your cybersecurity needs. If you deal with security threats regularly, store millions of dollars worth of PII, and have enough funds for routine assessments, you might benefit from pen tests. Just make sure you consult a reputable, trustworthy ethical hacker.
If you feel that pen testing carries too much risk, opt for vulnerability scanning. It also exposes cybersecurity weaknesses. But instead of hiring hackers to exploit insecure networks, it runs an automated program that scans your security perimeter—minimizing the potential damage.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/pros-cons-penetration-testing/
Ref: makeuseof
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