Penetration tests and vulnerability scans, if performed regularly, will help your organization avoid a costly data breach. Did you know that? So why don’t more companies get on the ball and do this?
Nearly every week, we read about a malicious hacker who has penetrated a security gap in an organization’s infrastructure to gain access to loads of irretrievable data. This ultimately costs the organization a lot of money and a damaged reputation. Then there are the victims. They lose too. Their stolen data may include credit card numbers, healthcare information, social security numbers, bank accounts, and more.
Smart organizations take a real-world approach with their security measures by engaging in regularly scheduled penetration tests to expose any vulnerabilities in their network’s infrastructure — before someone else does. This form of permission-based, ethical hacking will ultimately increase the effectiveness of cyber security in an organization.
Three Reasons for Penetration Tests
Still not convinced? Here are three compelling reasons from our trusted auditors, KirkpatrickPrice. He explains why you should have regular penetration tests performed at your organization:
Avoid the inconvenience of network downtime. Recovering from the aftermath of a data breach can be quite costly. The financial burden associated with paying legal fees, any IT remediation, customer protection programs, loss in sales, and disheartened customers can cost organizations millions of dollars. Being proactive with regular penetration testing can help to prevent financial loss while protecting your reputation and brand.
Comply with regulatory requirements and avoid fines. Regulatory fines can be steep. Penetration tests can be helpful in addressing the requirements for regulations such as HIPAA and GLBA but are required to comply with regulations such as PCI DSS 3.0 and FISMA. The costs associated with these kinds of fines vastly outweigh the costs of undergoing regular penetration tests. Be proactive.
Learn about holes in your security policies. Implementation of regular penetration tests is like practicing for a real-life hacker attack. It is a proactive approach to evaluating the security of an IT infrastructure. The process will uncover and exploit vulnerabilities within your organization that you can properly mitigate before an actual attack happens. Penetration tests identify and prioritize risks.
If you aren’t already undergoing regular penetration tests, why not? Start today.
You do not have to be an AISN hosting or app dev customer to take advantage of our Managed Security Services. Contact us today to begin a conversation about protecting your organization from data breaches.
Bill Peters, previous Director of Business Development for AISN.