Why is Penetration Testing Crucial for the Health and Security of Your Organization’s System and Infrastructure? Nowadays, many companies are shifting their operations and business processes to the digital realm, but we often underestimate the potential negative impacts of new technology. One of the primary risks is the possibility of hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure. If hackers successfully infiltrate your internal network, the likelihood of them taking over your IT infrastructure becomes significant. According to research conducted by Microsoft and Frost & Sullivan:
Besides revealing existing risks, we’ll also showcase the massive financial losses that can occur due to security incidents. Hence, penetration testing is vital to ensure that your IT infrastructure remains resistant to hacker attacks.
In the event of a security breach, a large-sized organization could face enormous financial losses, potentially over 300 times that of a medium-sized organization. Additionally, cyberattacks can result in the termination of business relations in nearly 70% of organizations that experienced incidents in the past year.
To mitigate risks and losses from cyberattacks, we need to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from such threats. One way to prevent attacks is by addressing known software vulnerabilities and routinely assessing security to uncover unknown vulnerabilities. However, we can’t guarantee that systems will always remain secure. Therefore, we must also have proper procedures in place to detect, respond to, and recover from incidents. Security assessments like Penetration Testing can help prevent hazardous incidents on IT infrastructure.
Penetration Testing, also known as ethical hacking, white-hat hacking, or pentesting, is a method for evaluating computer system, network, or software application security by searching for vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. There are various types of Penetration Testing, ranging from simple single web application testing to more complex activities like Red Teaming or Assault Simulations for enterprises.
But why should businesses conduct Penetration Testing? Here are four compelling reasons:
Risk Evaluation
Do you know your business’s current value? How critical is your IT infrastructure to your business? What would your losses amount to if that infrastructure faced interruptions for a day? Essentially, this business risk evaluation process assesses the threats you face and their implications. You can either conduct this yourself or enlist the expertise of independent specialists to evaluate these risks. The results will provide a prioritized list of security objectives for your business. Depending on the likelihood and impact of threats, Penetration Testing may rank as a top priority.
Compliance and Regulations
During the risk evaluation process, you should also consider the implications of non-compliance with regulations if you don’t conduct Penetration Testing on your products. Non-compliance can result in fines, loss of operational licenses, or even imprisonment. Hence, it’s essential to consult legal experts to assess local regulations and laws, ensuring your company’s adherence. For instance, if your firm operates as a financial institution in Indonesia, you must comply with local financial regulations set by the Financial Services Authority (OJK), including conducting security evaluations such as Penetration Testing on your IT infrastructure and applications.
Reputation
Data security is pivotal in building and maintaining your company’s reputation. A data breach, if made public, could severely damage your company’s reputation. This can result in a loss of customer trust and reduced revenue and profits. Even your company’s stock prices might be affected, as investors may fear the fallout. As society becomes more data privacy-conscious, the impact of data breaches grows, potentially causing significant losses.
Competition and Rivalry
Losing your company’s data could be disastrous, especially if it falls into the hands of your competitors. Although your rivals might not directly launch cyberattacks against you, they could inadvertently access the data. Cybercriminals often upload stolen information to public websites or sell it on the dark web. Your competitors might obtain the data through such means, and you’ll never be certain. Therefore, it’s essential to evaluate threats to your company data and their potential business impacts.
Conclusion
Penetration Testing can help reduce the risks your business might face. However, maintaining good security practices is crucial. Adopting a risk-based approach to cybersecurity allows you to address priority threats and continuously evaluate your business’s risk exposure. Don’t let cybersecurity be a looming threat; undertake Penetration Testing today to enhance the health and security of your organization’s system and infrastructure. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on Penetration Testing and how we can help bolster your organization’s cybersecurity.
