pentest as a service

With data breaches costing $4.45 million on average and around 343 million victims of cyberattacks in 2023, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. Businesses must ensure that their sensitive data is safe and protected from various cyberattacks. Within cybersecurity services, penetration testing is the top choice for securing organizations from data breaches and reputational damage. However, with so many penetration testing service providers available, how can you be sure you’re choosing the right one to fulfill your security testing requirements? In this blog, we will provide the right direction that will help you choose the right penetration testing vendor. In addition to that a list of top penetration testing companies in the USA. Understanding Penetration Testing Penetration Testing or pen testing is a security measure where a cybersecurity expert uses real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities in a digital environment such as applications, networks, etc. The purpose of penetration testing is to identify security flaws or weak points in the defense system that hackers could take advantage of. Some organizations may have a dedicated security team. However, a third-party cybersecurity firm should conduct penetration testing. This is because they have almost no knowledge of your internal security system and can mimic the techniques real hackers use. Additionally, their pentesting reports are also necessary to meet regulatory compliance. Importance of Penetration Testing Service Providers By identifying vulnerabilities before hackers do, penetration testing enhances your overall security. Here are a few reasons to hire the right penetration testing service provider:   Identify Vulnerabilities Unauthorized access and data breaches happen through vulnerabilities present in security measures. Penetration testing detects and fixes these vulnerabilities before cybercriminals do and saves you from great loss. Meet Compliance Requirements Many industry regulations and data protection laws like GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS mandate regular security assessments. Penetration testing helps ensure these compliances, avoiding hefty fines and legal consequences. Preserve Customer Trust and Reputation Customers trust organizations with their data and a data breach can break this trust. However, regular penetration testing showcases your commitment to keeping the customer data safe and maintaining your reputation. Understand the Current Security Posture Penetration tests provide vital information about your organization’s current security posture. It helps you assess the ability of your security to defend against real-world cyber threats and understand where you need to improve. Test New Systems and Applications Whenever your organization develops a new application or joins a new network, penetration testing can help ensure they are safe right from the start. As a result, it reduces the risk of launching insecure products. How to Choose the Right Penetration Testing Service Provider Choosing the right penetration testing service provider is like choosing a skilled guardian to secure your castle. They help you stand strong against evolving cyber threats and provide peace of mind in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape. Ensure they Provide Manual Penetration Testing, Not Just Automated Vulnerability Scanning Some cybersecurity companies might provide automated vulnerability scanning under the disguise of penetration testing. You need to understand that there is a huge difference between automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing. Manual penetration testing requires a skilled tester to find and exploit vulnerabilities effectively. However, automated vulnerability scanning involves automated scanners that operate with a fixed pattern to identify potential weaknesses, providing mostly false narratives. Manual testing is far superior to its automated counterpart. So, even if they offer automated vulnerability scanning, make sure the provider you choose also offers manual penetration testing. Certifications of the Penetration Testers There are multiple penetration testing certifications that cybersecurity professionals can possess. Some are well-respected in the industry as they focus on practical and hands-on assessments. At the same time, others do not truly measure a candidate’s ability to perform penetration tests and security audits effectively. Here are some common certifications that ensure a penetration tester is skilled enough to conduct penetration tests. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE) Burp Suite Certified Practitioner (focused on web/API security testing) SANS, GIAC, GPEN, and GWAPT (popular in the US) CREST, CRT, and CREST CCT Methodologies Employed by the Penetration Testing Service Provider When choosing the best penetration testing service provider, it is important to ensure they follow the best practices and proven methodologies. Some of the popular methodologies include:   OWASP- Open Web Application Security Project SANS 25 Security Threats OSSTMM – Open-Source Security Testing Manual ISSAF – Information Systems Security Assessment Framework. PTES- Penetration Testing Execution Standard NIST 800-30 Revision 1 Standard Request to Review Sample Reports and Other Deliverables Ask the penetration testing company to provide sample reports, letters of attestation, and other deliverables they might have. These documents are needed to see how good their findings are and how in-depth their testing is. Check for clear and actionable suggestions on fixing vulnerabilities. The quality of the report is very important, as it is the main thing you’ll get from your penetration testing service. Wondering what a real penetration testing report looks like? Well, now you can with just a click! Latest Penetration Testing Report Download Check for Data Protection Measures Surprisingly many cybersecurity service providers do not have strong data protection measures in place and lack the necessary certifications to prove that they can handle data without any risk. When choosing a penetration testing vendor, it’s important to make sure they follow strict data protection and security rules. Look for service providers with certifications like ISO 27001 or SOC 2, which ensure they safely handle sensitive data. Ask About Remediation and Retesting Options While all penetration testing reports mention remediation steps, you can ask the service provider whether they are willing to help with fixing the found vulnerabilities. Penetration testing service provider like Qualysec offers remediation help online or over consultation calls. This extra step can save time and fix the security gaps effectively. In addition, make sure the service provider has the option of retesting after the initial pen test has been performed. Retesting validates if the remediation steps have