What is a Penetration Test and Does Your Business Need One?
More and more small and midsize businesses are identifying the importance of implementing and maintaining up-to-date security software, processes and protocols to protect their company's data and information. However, many are not truly aware of how their employees and technology would react to an actual cyberattack. Penetration testing is the answer that can inform you of how secure your system is, how prepared your staff is, and where you can make improvements to your systems and processes to better protect your organization.
What is Penetration Testing?
A penetration test, or pen test, is a cybersecurity assessment that involves simulating a cyberattack on an application, computer system, or network to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
Benefits of Penetration Testing:
- Defining security best practices for applications and systems
- Preparing against malicious threats that could target your company
- Identifying potential threats that could result in a successful attack
- Reducing the overall attack surface within the application environment or mobile application
How Does Penetration Testing Work?
The penetration test is performed by ethical hackers who perform controlled attacks on a system or network with the consent of a company's owner or chief information security officer (CISO). The goal is to identify and address vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. The timing and details of the test are usually known to a group of staff members of the organization being tested. The test would be scheduled in advance at an ideal time to assess security measures proactively.
What a Penetration Test will Find:
- Weak domain user account passwords
- Sensitive files stored on network shares
- Sensitive data within databases
- Weak password policies
- Network share permission issues
- Man-in-the-middle attacks and possibilities
Make Sure You’re Protected with Penetration Testing
Stay protected from online attacks. Premier IT's penetration testing services are the solution to enhancing your organization's cyber security.
What Happens Next?
Once a penetration test is performed, organizations can use the results to identify ways to protect valuable data by reducing the number of attack points and accessible paths to sensitive resources and systems. The information and data from the pen test will demonstrate how identified risks affect your organization, where your organization stands compared to its peers, and how it compares to any previous assessments, etc.
→ Related Read: 5 Fundamental Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses
How to Know if My Business Needs a Penetration Test?
According to a recent study, a staggering 76% of US small and mid-sized businesses suffered a cyberattack last year, and 69% experienced a data breach. Source: Ibid. With this alarming insight, if your company has not performed a penetration test, you really can’t afford to wait. The security of your company and sensitive information is something that you must be proactive about and not leave to chance.
Premier IT: Your Pen Test Partner
Today’s businesses need an airtight strategy for protection against possible security breaches. At Premier IT we are equipped and ready to help you implement the most powerful software and systems for handling intrusion by malware, viruses, hackers, eavesdropping, phishing, and more. Schedule your Comprehensive Security Audit or Penetration Test with us today and gain confidence in your company’s cybersecurity.
Premier IT is a dedicated IT support team that manages all your technology needs. We pay attention to the details so you can focus on what you do best. We provide technical consulting, hosted infrastructure, computer & network support, security, Microsoft support, repairs, network monitoring and more. If your small business needs reliable technical support, contact our team of experienced technicians and engineers.