As data breaches and compliance mandates increases, penetration testing isn’t optional anymore. This has become an ethical hacking requirement that provides companies insight into possible security weaknesses in their IT infrastructure. Since this service is in high demand, more and more testing companies are offering their services in the market. As a client, how will you know which one is right for you? This article will teach you the eight essential things that you need to consider when looking for pen testing companies.
Clear and detailed reports
Reports should be easy to understand and include summary data for executives and detailed data for technical personnel. The penetration test report should contain a prioritised risk-based list of findings with detailed step-by-step recommendations. Any steps taken to exploit systems should include screenshots, where applicable. Your team should be able to reproduce the findings, given the steps in the report. Your potential penetration testing companies UK based should be capable of providing detailed and redacted reports. If you can’t understand the report or take action on the findings, what’s the point of the penetration test?
Manual and automated testing
Automated tools do not detect all vulnerabilities and are prone to false positives. Manual methods must be used as part of the penetration test to fill in gaps left by the automated tools, eliminate false positives, and ensure test completeness. The top pentesting companies provide their services using both manual and automated methods in every test. Therefore, look for a company that utilises both methods. Many penetration testing organisations run automated tools and then pass those results off as a penetration test. A penetration test should involve many tools and many manual techniques as much as possible.
Identify and eliminate false positives
A false positive is when the penetration testing team tells you there is a vulnerability or a problem when there really isn’t one. The penetration testing team should make every effort to eliminate false positives and label questionable findings. This is why manual analysis is critical. When you receive a report riddled with false positives, it will waste your time. Therefore, look for top pentesting companies that can accurately identify and eliminate false positives.
Background checks
It is important also to inquire about mechanisms the company has in place to ensure the trustworthiness of its employees. Ask your potential penetration testing companies UK based if they perform background checks when hiring their employees. Does a company have a program for continuous security recertification? Pen testers will have access to the company’s inner infrastructure secrets, and screening and vetting are a minimum requirement.
A clear statement of work involved
The pen testing companies you need to hire must have an industry-accepted penetration testing methodology. The team needs to provide a clear statement of work that highlights testing limits, time of engagement, tools and methods employed, privacy concerns, procedures related to data access, along reporting expectations and requirements. Make sure the services the company can provide correspond to the needs of your organisation.
Talent
You ought to take an in-depth check out the pen testers who will perform the engagement. There are many penetration testers out there, but only a few will have the talents and knowledge to deliver a high-quality pentest. When looking for pen testers, the two things that you should focus on are their proven expertise and actual experience. Expertise In terms of experience, your pen testing team should be ready to demonstrate their technical knowledge. For instance, a university degree in information security, including ethical hacking certifications or continuing education courses, is an excellent sign that your pentester has acquired the required theoretical and practical skills to urge the work done. No matter which expertise your pen testing team has, confirm that their resumes demonstrate their level of technical knowledge and their willingness to find out and stay on top of recent pen testing techniques.
References
Invite two to three references of pen tests conducted for organisations of the same size, with an identical scope or that are within the same industry as you. Doing this gives you more confirmation that your potential pen testing company is really right for your company. A quick call with the provided references can assist you to validate the professionalism, expertise, and value of the penetration testing company in ways in which their sales proposal or the resumes of their pen testers couldn’t reveal.
As technology evolves, there is no question why companies shouldn’t use penetration testing for securing their information assets. Whether performing pen testing regularly or as part of compliance audits, it is an activity that can help increase awareness of a company’s potential security breaches. Therefore, choosing the right pen testing companies is essential, and you can use the article as a guide to evaluate and narrow down your potential list.
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