Understanding Penetration Testing & Why You Need One

Between 2022 and 2023 Ransomware attack victims rose by 128.7%*. As a Canadian MSSP, we understand the unique cybersecurity challenges faced by organizations here. From data privacy regulations like PIPEDA to the growing sophistication of cyberattacks, keeping your data and systems safe is more important than ever.

One tool in your cybersecurity arsenal is a penetration test, also known as a pen test. But what exactly is a pen test, and why should your organization consider one?

What is a Pen Test?

Think of a pen test as a controlled fire drill for your IT systems. It is a proactive approach to assessing the security of an organization's IT infrastructure, applications, and networks to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Pen testers use a variety of techniques to mimic real-world cyber threats, such as social engineering, network scanning, and exploitation of software vulnerabilities searching for weaknesses that could allow them to gain access to your systems, steal data, or disrupt operations. The goal of the pen test is to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in your system the same way a hacker would, allowing you to fix the issue before one does.

Why are Pen Tests Important?

• Proactive Security: Pen tests help you identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cybercriminals. This can save your business from costly data breaches, downtime, and reputational damage.
• Compliance: Many regulations, like PCI DSS for credit card transactions, mandate regular penetration testing. A pen test demonstrates your commitment to data security and helps you achieve compliance.
• Improved Security Posture: Pen tests provide valuable insights into your overall security posture. The report details the vulnerabilities found, their severity, and recommendations for remediation. This empowers you to prioritize security improvements and strengthen your defenses.
• Cost-Effective Risk Management: While investing in cybersecurity measures may seem daunting for some businesses, the cost of a data breach far outweighs the expenses associated with proactive security measures.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing your systems have been rigorously tested by security experts provides peace of mind. You can be confident that you're taking proactive steps to safeguard your valuable data.

Who should get a Pen Test?

If your organization already has a fairly mature cybersecurity approach and performs regular vulnerability scans, a pen test would help discover potential issues you may have missed or not thought about. If you are beginning your journey or have not done a vulnerability scan in over a year, you may want to start with a simple cybersecurity assessment, they are more cost effective (they use more automation) and will help identify the main issues. You can then progress to a pen test and get the full value from it.

Who should perform Pen Test?

Most regulations require that an "external" party performs the pen test. The reason behind this is simple, you should have already protected all the things you can think about (if you already know about something, you do not need a pen test to remind you). An external pen tester will come with their own bag of tricks and experience, and will attempt novel approaches to discover issues on your system. They also often will keep trying until they find something (which is why you want a clean vulnerability scan prior, so that they do not spend their time finding the easy things). Lastly, this also means that the pen test should not be performed by your service provider since they should have protected you from what they are aware of and may not be incented to identify issues with their coverage (and to be clear, a good pen tester will usually find something, that does not mean your service provider is doing a bad job, just that you have all learned a new way to defend that specific environment).

Ready to Take Control of Your Cybersecurity?

At ALCiT, we offer comprehensive pen testing services (via external third parties) tailored to the specific needs of Canadian organizations. Contact us today to discuss your security requirements and learn how a pen test can help you achieve a more secure future.

Remember, cybersecurity is not a one-time fix. By working with a trusted partner and incorporating pen testing into your security strategy, you can proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, ensuring the safety of your assets and the success of your business.