Did you know that a third of all businesses will experience a cyber-attack this year? And that’s just the ones that are reported! The fact is, if you’re not doing penetration testing on your business, you’re at risk. In this blog post, we’ll break down what penetration testing is and why it’s so important for businesses. We’ll also discuss the risks of not having security testing done, and how it can impact your bottom line.

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The Breakdown of Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing, or “pentesting” for short, is a process that involves attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in your systems in order to identify potential security threats. Pentesters use a variety of methods to try and gain access to your systems, including but not limited to:

• Scanning networks and devices for open ports and vulnerable services

• Exploiting known vulnerabilities in applications or systems

• Brute force attacks against user accounts

• Social engineering attacks against employees

Once pentesters have gained access to your systems, they will attempt to exploit any vulnerabilities they find in order to gain control of your systems or sensitive data. This allows businesses to identify and fix these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by actual attackers.

The Importance of Penetration Testing

So why is pentesting so important? Simply put, it’s because pentesting finds vulnerabilities that other security measures might not find, this becomes even more substantial the bigger your business is. For example, firewalls and antivirus software can only detect threats that are known at the time of installation. New exploits and attacks are discovered all the time, so relying on these measures alone is not enough to protect your business from cyber-attacks. Pentesting provides an additional layer of security by identifying these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

The Risks of not Performing Regular Testing

So what happens if you don’t perform regular pentesting on your business? Well, the risks are pretty significant. First of all, you’re leaving your systems open to attack by anyone who knows how to exploit the vulnerabilities that have been found. Additionally, you could be violating industry regulations or even facing legal action if your systems are compromised and sensitive data is stolen.

Finally, the most significant risk of all is the impact that a cyber-attack can have on your bottom line. A recent study by IBM found that the average cost of a data breach is now $3.8 million, and that’s just for small to medium businesses! The cost of a data breach can be much higher for larger businesses, and can include things like loss of business, damage to reputation, and fines from regulatory agencies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, pentesting is a vital part of any business’ cybersecurity strategy. By identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, you can reduce the risk of a data breach and protect your business from financial damages. If you’re not currently performing pentesting on your systems, now is the time to start!

For more information on penetration testing and cybersecurity, please contact us today. We would be happy to discuss your needs and how we can help you protect your business from cyber-attacks.

TechBite – Penetration Testing