10 Things to Keep in Mind Before Hiring a Penetration Testing Service

A penetration testing service is an invaluable tool that enables organizations to specifically test for exploitable vulnerabilities at each juncture of their digital infrastructure. It is a process that can save them from devastating cyberattacks and help them achieve their security goals. However, there are a few things that an organization should keep in mind before hiring a pen testing service.

1. The penetration testing service should be customized to the organization’s needs and goals. Moreover, it should also be done by a qualified team of professionals who have years of experience in the field. The report that is generated after the test should be detailed and contain all the information needed to make a proper decision.

2. A good penetration test company will not only identify the vulnerabilities but will also suggest ways to address them. This is especially important in case the vulnerabilities discovered by the test are critical to the business.

3. A good penetration testing service will also provide a detailed report after the test is completed. This will include a list of all the vulnerabilities that were found and the severity of each one. This will enable the organization to prioritize the remediation process and patch these holes in the security infrastructure.

4. An effective penetration testing service should be able to complete the test within the time frame specified by the client. This will save the company time and money while at the same time ensuring that the test was performed in the most efficient manner possible.

5. A good penetration test company should be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality during the tests. This is important as it will ensure that the sensitive data is not leaked and misused. This will prevent the company from being sued for stealing data or other unauthorized use of the information.

6. A good penetration test company should be able perform tests that are scalable and cost-effective. This is important in cases where the tests must be performed frequently to keep up with business demands.

7. A good penetration test company should be able offer security training for network staff. This is important as it will allow the security team to recognize the different types of attacks and respond accordingly.

8. A good penetration test company should be able help the customer in mapping the attack lifecycle and the cyber kill chain. This will help the security team to know how each stage of the cyber kill chain plays out and what steps are needed in order to protect the assets of the organization.

9. A good penetration test company should be able provide an overall risk rating to the customer. This is important for the organization’s Senior Management team to be able to see how vulnerable they are and what areas they need to improve on.

10. A good penetration test company should be able identify gaps that could hinder the organization from attaining compliance standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and GLBA. This will enable the organization to avoid fines that can be imposed for non-compliance with these regulations and other security guidelines.