In the last 12 months, 50% of businesses have been affected by or experienced a cybersecurity breach online. As the digital world advances, cyber threats and attacks online expand, too. Protecting your business operations, sensitive data, and assets is a crucial aspect of running a business. One effective tool used is automated penetration testing.
In this article, we will explore penetration testing, its different types, why it is needed in businesses, and its role within a cybersecurity strategy plan.
Understanding Automated Penetration Testing
Penetration testing involves a process of cybersecurity experts testing attacks on systems, assets, and networks to identify how malicious attackers can access a company’s systems. Traditional penetration testing would normally involve a manual process where a group of security teams would work together to test out the vulnerabilities of online systems. However, as businesses begin to grow, cyber threats can evolve, resulting in time-consuming methods.
This is where automated penetration testing comes into play. This method involves specialized tools and software used to simulate online attacks. Businesses can test to see where their weaknesses are within their online systems and how to address any security gaps in real-time.
Three Types of Automated Penetration Testing:
- Black Box Testing: This type focuses on simulating hacking or cyber-attacks with current online systems.
- White Box Testing: This type of testing focuses on the knowledge of a system’s infrastructure, network maps, and source codes.
- Grey Box Testing: This type tests for user-level access, allowing testers to simulate attacks by users or third parties.
Why is Automated Penetration Testing Needed for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs and business owners offer various skills to help manage their organizations. Sometimes, cybersecurity can not be a main priority for business owners. However, here are four reasons why automated penetration testing is essential for entrepreneurs:
1. Threat Detection
Automated penetration testing helps businesses stay ahead against cyber threats by identifying possible vulnerabilities. Rather than waiting for an attack to occur, companies can use automated tools to discover their system weaknesses.
2. Cost Effective
Many startups and small businesses will find this automated approach effective. Manual testing can sometimes be expensive, especially when hiring experts. However, automated penetration testing ensures that businesses can receive a cost-effective alternative to ensure their cybersecurity systems are in check.
3. Compliance
Cybersecurity not only focuses on protecting your business but also maintaining trust with your customers. Data breaches can cause serious reputational consequences. Automated testing offers security measures to protect a business’s reputation and ensure customers feel safe working with a business.
4. Scalability
As businesses grow, cybersecurity also does. Automated penetration testing is scalable, allowing security operations to expand. Whether you’re launching new products, increasing your target market, or adding new employees, this testing can keep your systems secure regardless of your business scale.
What Role Does Automated Penetration Play in Cybersecurity Strategies?
Cybersecurity is crucial for your business and to ensure your organization stays protected. The role of automated penetration testing plays a big role in building resilience, and here are some ways it can enhance the security of your business:
1. Improvements and Monitoring
Automated penetration testing focuses on continuous monitoring for businesses. This means organizations can always test for possible new threats, ensuring security systems are up to date and reducing the risk of weaknesses. Automated tools can work to simulate new possible threats and keep defenses up to date.
2. Insights
This type of testing tool also offers insight and reports into business systems. These reports break down the information regarding the vulnerabilities found and provide recommendations for fixing them. This allows entrepreneurs and businesses to make decisions regarding their business without having to struggle to understand the complex language.
3. Employee Awareness
Automated penetration testing can detect phishing attacks, weak passwords, and other types of cyber attacks a company may experience. This can help employees become aware of the different types of online attacks and understand the cybersecurity knowledge involved in the business. It can also help teams identify any possible future threats and respond to them quickly.
4. Growing Business
Cyber attacks online can cause a wide range of issues for businesses. However, automated penetration testing can help companies avoid these issues by identifying the system’s vulnerabilities and preventing breaches. This will also allow entrepreneurs to grow their businesses without having to worry about a possible cyber attack and its impact.
Conclusion
It is clear that incorporating automated penetration testing into companies’ cybersecurity systems is ideal for protecting companies worldwide, especially with the growing number of cyber-attacks. This digital tool can ensure businesses can identify system vulnerabilities, learn to improve systems, and use a cost-effective tool to maintain cybersecurity defenses.
Whether you’re a start-up company or an established business owner, investing in automated penetration testing is ideal for a cybersecurity plan to protect your business from possible cyber threats.
