Among the many security measures one can implement to ensure the security of digital assets is web application pentesting, the purpose of which is to eventually beef up what you currently have. What makes web application pentesting, according to ImmuniWeb, particularly effective is its very process, which aims to get into the mind of malicious actors.
This, as well as a few other reasons, can be pointed to if one were to explain why your policy needs this particular measure. Let’s explore the benefits of pentesting, which will then show you why policies should have them. With that out of the way, here’s a quick dive into what penetration testing involves.
What’s pentesting?
Web pentesting or penetration testing is a security measure that sees organizations test out the security of their digital assets against real-world situations or rather, simulations of them. The idea behind web app pen-testing is that testers are given a license to get into your systems, simulating various scenarios and seeking equally as many entries/weak points. In doing so, weaknesses in the existing security systems are found and they can later be addressed appropriately, hence, beefing it up.
The testers hired should be certified, while also possessing the right tools that are built to tackle specific points of weakness. For organizations, malicious actors could come from both within and without, with weak spots exploited coming in the form of the following:
- All cloud-related areas and all IoT-related areas
- The entire Internet presence, including web and mobile apps
- Emails that are subject to phishing
If done well, web application penetration testing should, in theory, allow your security personnel a glimpse into the heads of hackers and similar people. If you know how they think, what they target, how long they can retain access and a host of other information, you can better protect yourself.
Why it should be part of policies
While the measure in question seems to be an obvious reason in itself, there are quite a few reasons it should be part of your policy. These include the following:
Discovering system weak points
This is probably the most obvious benefit of having such testing done on your systems, but it is always worth repeating. The thing is that if you’re going to fix any potential issues your system has, you’ll have to detect them.
That said, simply detecting them is only part of the struggle, as you’ll need to know as much about them as possible to see how they can be exploited. The constant, ethical probing that testers conduct in web application pen-testing allows for this and in return, makes the resulting mediation of problems efficient and effective.
Allowing regulatory compliance
If you’re an organization that deals with customer data, as is common today, you have to keep this valuable asset as safe as all the others you have. This isn’t just a measure of goodwill on your part. It is actually a compliance act that certain regulatory bodies such as the GDPR oversee.
To remain in compliance, the measures outlined by them. These also include regular web application pen-testing, which have to be followed.
The avoidance of unnecessary costs
Compliance isn’t just something that’s done to allow for your activities to continue, since the customers are protected. In protecting them, you and your operation are also protected from the serious issues that could arise should a data breach occur. The most obvious potential threat is being sued after a malicious entity forces entry into your system.
If you were negligent, there isn’t much of a case for you and if you try to come to a settlement of sorts, you still end up paying hefty legal fees. The compliance measure that is pen-testing protects you not only from malicious entities but the potential legal issues that come in the aftermath of noncompliance.
A resulting trust-filled customer relationship
Customers of any organization with a digital presence should always be weary and try to seek out assurance that their data will be protected. When any sign of noncompliance to pen-testing or any security measure is seen in an organization, it should be rightfully avoided.
The complete opposite shows that an organization is willing to go the extra mile to protect clients. And actually that earns their trust.
Any other concerns?
Pentesting comes in many forms that help address certain issues with prioritization in mind. The most notable testing types are as follows:
- Internal tests, which look for weaknesses within the organization
- External tests, which look for weak points outside the organization
- Blind tests, which give the tester limited information about the organization and have them breach the firewall
- White test, which gives testers all the information and access to the digital realm, after which they probe for weaknesses
Is it worth the investment?
The latter among this is arguably the most desirable test, as through it, a more thorough account of your weaknesses is given and later acted upon. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive of the pen-testing types, which aren’t cheap themselves.
To stretch things out further, pen testing, while a good measure to see through, isn’t a sure thing, as the malicious actors of the real world have time on their hands. This is a time that pen-testing, valuable as it is, won’t provide, as a juggling act between it and company operations has to be done. In any case, it’s still a great measure worth going after in a world with a climbing digital adoption rate, as it, at the very least, shows both competence and care for customer data.
Final thoughts
What the above has shown about web application pentesting is that its value goes beyond just simply enhancing current security within organizations. It is, in fact, a bit of a buffer against potentially catastrophic risks that could result from negligence. These go beyond the breaching of your assets and extend into the theft of customer data, which could lead to serious legal consequences.
The value of pen-testing can be seen even past the drawbacks relating to pricing and uncertainty. This is because the price you pay is often worth it and the greater uncertainty comes from doing nothing.
