With the proliferation of both small and high-profile breaches occurring globally, it is vital to identify and diagnose security vulnerabilities in your company’s IT infrastructure and assets before a breach or intrusion takes place.
Penetration testing, also sometimes called 3rd. party pen testing when done by an outside firm, offers real-world, real-time analysis to determine specific security vulnerabilities in your infrastructure as well as helping to identify intrusion-prone access points that can expose your system to future threats. By understanding and engaging penetration testing as part of a security audit or review, you can rest well knowing that your company’s IT assets and resources are safe and secure.
Knowing Your Vulnerabilities
Security concerns can occur anywhere within a system. These include operating system vulnerabilities both known and unknown, security flaws in applications and services, inexperienced or unsavvy end-user behavior and weak or ineffective network security policies. In other words, vulnerabilities can occur anywhere within your IT infrastructure and place your company at risk.
Penetration Testing Targets
The goal of penetration testing is to seek out and identify vulnerabilities before they become a liability. Areas targeted for penetration testing include but are not limited to;
Once a vulnerable target has been compromised, the penetration test continues with each subsequent security level discovering more targets thereby, further identifying more vulnerabilities. In a comprehensive penetration test, all targets are tested, while limited penetration testing would target, say, wireless networks.
Benefiting From Pen Testing
Engaging either limited or comprehensive penetration testing provides your company with specific benefits. When combined with further and more extensive IT Cybersecurity Services, the benefits provided by pen testing are enhanced to the level of making it vital for most businesses and companies.
Among the benefits of penetration testing are:
Furthermore, penetration testing identifies ares of improvement for internal security processes and procedures, fostering a culture that helps to reduce future vulnerabilities. This awareness helps to make the current security management processes much more effective.
Penetration testing is a crucial cybersecurity tool that can help your company withstand the seemingly continual onslaught of security vulnerabilities and security concerns materializing in the global economy.
Only by putting your IT infrastructure and assets to the test can you be sure your company’s systems and data are safe and secure. It is far better to discover security vulnerabilities before a breach than afterward. The benefits of penetration testing deliver both the peace of mind and a sense of security for you and your customers.
To discover more about penetration testing and how it can benefit you and your company, contact Exigent and let us show you how to keep your systems and data safe. We offer organizations in the NJ and NYC areas a wide variety of IT security services including 3rd. party penetration testing, firewall as a service, and more. Contact us today to learn more.
Daniel Haurey Jr. is the president and founder of managed IT services provider Exigent Technologies, which he founded in 1997. Under his leadership, the MSP has earned accolades ranging from Channel Futures MSP 501 to being named SonicWall’s 2024 MSP Growth Partner of the Year. Dan is a true entrepreneur, dedicated to growing, investing in, and mentoring small businesses. You can find him on LinkedIn, where he regularly posts about technology, business, leadership, and community.