As the world becomes more and more digital, companies are collecting sensitive data on their networks at an alarming rate. This data can include everything from customer financial information to trade secrets. And with the rise of cyber-attacks, it’s more important than ever for companies to secure their networks. One way to do this is through external network penetration testing.
Pen testing, as it’s often called, is a process of simulating an attack on a network to find vulnerabilities. By doing this, you can find and fix weak spots before they’re exploited by bad actors. In this blog post, we’ll explore five benefits of external network penetration testing. From improved security to cost savings, read on to learn more about why pen testing is essential for any business with an online presence.
What Is External Network Penetration Testing?
External network penetration testing is a form of ethical hacking that is performed by security experts on a company’s behalf. The goal of this type of testing is to identify vulnerabilities in a company’s systems that could be exploited by attackers.
External network penetration testing can be used to test the effectiveness of a company’s firewall, identify weak passwords, and find other vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. This type of testing can also help a company to understand how an attacker might attempt to gain access to its systems and what tools and techniques would be used.
External network penetration testing is an important part of any security strategy and can help a company to find and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers.
Who Should Use External Network Penetration Testing
Organizations that are particularly concerned about their external network security should consider conducting an external network penetration test. This type of test is designed to simulate a real-world attack on your network, and can help you identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a malicious actor.
External network penetration testing can be an important part of your organization’s security strategy, and can help you find and fix weaknesses in your network before they can be exploited. If you’re considering conducting an external network penetration test, be sure to work with a reputable and experienced security testing firm to ensure that the test is conducted properly and that all vulnerabilities are identified.
Benefits of External Network Penetration Testing
External network penetration testing is an incredibly valuable exercise for any organization. By simulating an attack from outside the network, organizations can identify gaps and weaknesses in their security posture that could be exploited by a real attacker.
There are many benefits to conducting external network penetration tests, including:
Detect and arrange security threats
External network penetration testing can help you find and fix vulnerabilities in your system before attackers do. By testing your system from the outside, you can get a better understanding of how it would stand up to a real attack.
Protect customer loyalty and company image
In today’s business climate, it’s more important than ever to protect your customer loyalty and company image. A breach of your network can result in the loss of customer data, which can lead to a loss of trust and damage to your reputation. An external network penetration test can help you identify vulnerabilities in your network so that you can take steps to mitigate the risk of a breach.
A penetration test conducted by a third-party provider can give you an objective view of your network security. The tester will attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in your system in order to gain access to sensitive data. This process can help you identify where your system is weakest and what needs to be improved.
External network penetration testing is an important part of keeping your customer loyalty and company image intact. By identifying vulnerabilities and taking steps to mitigate the risk of a breach, you can protect your customers’ data and maintain their trust.
Meet monitoring necessities and evade penalties
It is no secret that the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been Top of Mind for organizations around the world since it was enacted in May, 2018. The GDPR imposes strict new rules on how companies must protect the personal data of European Union citizens. And while the regulation applies specifically to EU citizens’ data, its reach is much broader because many companies do business in the EU or have EU customers.
To comply with GDPR, organizations must take steps to secure the personal data they collect and process. This includes conducting regular risk assessments and penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities in their systems and networks.
Penetration testing can help organizations meet their GDPR compliance obligations in several ways. First, by identifying weaknesses in their systems and networks, penetration tests can help organizations prevent data breaches that could lead to fines under GDPR. Second, penetration tests can help organizations detect and respond to attacks quickly, which is another key requirement of GDPR. Finally, by providing evidence of an organization’s efforts to secure its systems and networks, penetration tests can help demonstrate GDPR compliance to regulators.
Organizations that are subject to GDPR must take steps to protect the personal data they collect and process. Penetration testing is one way to achieve this compliance.
Service disturbances and Security breaches are expensive
Service disruptions and security breaches can be extremely costly for businesses. Not only do they incur direct costs such as damages and recovery expenses, but they also face indirect costs such as lost productivity, reputation damage, and customer churn.
According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach in 2019 was $3.92 million. The study found that the average cost per lost or stolen record was $148. And while smaller businesses (those with less than 100 employees) had an average cost of $2.45 million per breach, larger businesses (those with more than 1,000 employees) faced an even higher cost of $8.19 million per breach.
Additionally, a separate study by IBM found that the total cost of a data breach could be as high as $17 million when taking into account factors such as litigation, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.
There are a number of steps businesses can take to help prevent service disruptions and security breaches, but penetration testing is one of the most effective methods. Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks on your network to identify vulnerabilities and weakness so they can be addressed before an actual attack occurs.
By conducting regular penetration tests, businesses can significantly reduce their chances of experiencing a costly service disruption or security breach.
Conclusion
External network penetration testing is a great way to assess the security of your network and identify potential network security vulnerabilities. By conducting regular tests, you can ensure that your network is as secure as possible and reduce the risk of data breaches or other security incidents. In addition, penetration testing can help you improve your overall security posture and make it easier to detect and respond to threats.