A complete secure program requires doing penetration tests to make sure that personal information and the privacy of your clients are not stolen by a malicious hacker with an intention to harm your company.
Many companies use the best programs that will fight every type of advanced cyber attacks and while that is important, it is not enough. In order to fully trust that your security system will work the way it is supposed to, you have to test it out and constantly exercise it.
The most common way to check the strength of your security system is by hiring a penetration testing company. The penetration test, or “pentest” for short, will be conducted by a professional hacker that was authorized by your company to perform a cyber attack on your network and your applications.
The goal of performing a penetration test against your security system is to identify weaknesses and areas that hackers can go through to steal sensitive information or other types of data.
What things should I look for in a penetration testing company?
Penetration testing companies offer great services that highlight vulnerability in your security system, but that is not the only thing you should look for. The testing process involves many steps, and you are entitled to get fast service from talented hackers who will provide a detailed report to fix your system’s weaknesses.
Here are the most important things to look for when hiring a penetration testing company:
Fast delivery
A penetration test requires delivering results in a timely matter, as the last thing you need is to have to wait for them to inform you if your security system is at risk. Depending on the company and the professional hackers, some tests could take 4-6 weeks to get completed and some can get it done within 24 hours of hire.
Some companies might also charge an extra fee if you want to get the penetration test done within a few days. Look for a company that will get the tests done as quickly as possible.
Updates throughout the process
Transparency is extremely important with any type of companies you hire, but it is especially important in this situation. Some penetration testing companies forget to focus on communicating with the hiring company during the process.
Look for a penetration testing company that will be offer absolute visibility to their customers while the tests are being conducted.
Offer long-term security
When doing a penetration test, it is recommended to do it more than once to make sure that your security system is up to date. A penetration testing company who cares about their customers will offer a long-term plan to continue testing your system.
Look for a company that will show you what their security goals are for their customers and how they can create a plan for your business to stay secure for a long time.
Penetration testing is not only conducted based on the customer’s needs, it is a strategy to add to your security system.
