Penetration test or pen-testing essentially embodies the old adage “Prevention is better than cure.” With this handy-dandy hacking strategy, cyber terrorists will come to besiege your business and find armed forces ready and waiting to thwart all nuisances. Now, this sounds like something any business owner should consider blending into their cybersecurity strategy. Allow us to show you how.
Start with a Solid Foundation
Before you jump into penetration testing, make sure you have your basic defenses in place. Firewalls, antivirus software, and secure passwords are the front line of your defense. Consider them the outer walls of your castle.
Identify Critical Assets
Identify the systems, data, and applications that are most important to your business. This is your most valuable treasure. Make sure your penetration testing company puts most of its focus on these most important areas to ensure they are the most protected.
Develop a Testing Schedule
Regular testing is key. Determine how often your company should do a penetration test. Seasonally or twice per year is the norm for many organizations. Consistency ensures new weaknesses are caught and corrected early.
Align with Compliance Requirements
If you are in an industry with specific compliance requirements, make sure your penetration testing follows those requirements. This keeps you in line and out of fines.
Engage the Right Experts
Hiring the right penetration testing company is key. Make sure they have the tactics, techniques, and procedures that are compliant with your industry. Make sure they have certifications and understand your industry and the threats faced.
Integrate with Other Security Measures
Penetration testing supports your security efforts. Instead of doing the job of your security personnel, penetration testing takes it a step further. Make sure your team understands the role that penetration testing plays in your security strategies.
Review and Act on Findings
Look over the results of your tests with a keen eye. Implement plans to patch anything that turned up in vulnerability. Aim to be better, after every test, the goal is to harden your defenses.
Communicate with Your Team
Let your team members know about penetration testing. Building your team’s trust and cooperation helps to a great extent. They should know what’s happening around them and how to respond if there is any alert.
Document and Learn
Keep a log of all your penetration tests. Details like all the findings, alerts, and all actions undertaken should be recorded. This results in effective monitoring and analysis of the status.
Stay Informed About Threats
Cyber threats change all the time. Be sure to read about the latest trends and threats. This new knowledge will help you to sharpen your testing and overall strategy.
Building a Robust Defense
To wrap this up, incorporating pen-testing into your cybersecurity program is critical and beneficial to your overall security posture. The safer you are, the better your business will be. Use a top penetration testing company and secure your digital castle with confidence.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
