Approximately 77% of companies in the first world rank cybersecurity attacks as a major priority. A further 10% of all small and medium-sized companies that fall victim to cybersecurity threats end up shutting down.
With such risks facing your business, it’s important to consider ways in which your company can improve its cybersecurity as technology advances and hacking attempts evolve. Let’s talk about what network penetration testing is, why it’s necessary and the three ways it can give your business a cybersecurity advantage.
What is Network Penetration Testing?
Network penetration testing is a series of tests to determine the security strength of a network or computer system. Penetration testing mainly helps identify any vulnerabilities that an external attacker could use by simulating certain cyberattacks.
Network penetration testing can either be manual or automatic. The process of network penetration testing involves a professional or system learning about the computer system, identifying possible weaknesses and trying to break into the system using those weaknesses.
The findings from network penetration testing are extremely valuable, as they can help you determine which areas of your IT infrastructure are most susceptible to attacks and what you can do to patch them. By simulating actual attacks that hackers could use against you, you can gain an advantage by patching weaknesses before they lead to real attacks.
Why Is It Important to Keep Up with Cyberattacks?
Cyberattacks are on the rise, not only for companies, but for individuals as well. In fact, phishing and social engineering attempts have increased by 600% just since coronavirus hit. This makes it critical for all businesses—no matter your size or industry—to develop better security mechanisms to safeguard your data and information.
Cyberattacks are on the rise due to many reasons, but one of the main ones is that sensitive information is often left unprotected. A report by Varonis found that 41% of companies have unprotected sensitive files.
In fact, it’s estimated that a business will encounter a cyberattack every 11 seconds by 2021. And with more and more businesses working remotely during the pandemic and neglecting updated cybersecurity with their new networks, these risks become even greater.
Whether you are a small or large business, cyberattacks could cost you a lot of money. Microsoft estimates that cyberattacks cost the global business community almost $500 billion. If left unchecked, cyber attacks may cost the global economy more than $6 trillion every year.
However, by conducting penetration tests, you can significantly reduce this costly risk for your business and protect your company’s assets, reputation and clients.
3 Advantages of Performing Network Penetration Testing
Better Secure Your Data
One primary advantage to penetration testing is that it helps you keep sensitive data safe. The goal of many cyber attacks is information theft that steals valuable private data. They then will either sell that data, or in the case of ransomware attacks, demand a fee before they return data access to you.
Network penetration testing exploits potential weaknesses by simulating these same data attacks. By allowing an expert to try and break your systems before a hacker can, you learn more advanced techniques for keeping your sensitive data encrypted and safe from unauthorized users. You can also create more secure policies for handling and sharing that data.
Maximize Uptime
Another benefit to network penetration is that it exploits any inefficiencies causing downtime in your organization. By rectifying these inefficiencies, you can ensure that your systems are running 24/7, improving productivity and business continuity.
It will also help you identify any weaknesses in your network that may interrupt or interfere with service or product delivery. Identifying even seemingly smaller weaknesses will help you know if there are bigger gaps that the system overlooks. Network penetration tests will help you close these gaps on all sides.
Optimize Your Infrastructure
The third advantage is that network penetration testing gives you valuable insights on how to better manage your system’s overall setup. The tests can help you optimize your infrastructure so that it’s functioning at maximum security and efficiency according to your business needs. Optimization also helps you more thoroughly comply with various standards or regulations you are required to follow in your industry.
Conduct a Network Penetration Test Today
Putting up measures to protect yourself from cyberattacks is more cost effective than incurring the loss when an attack happens. Conduct network penetration tests regularly with the help of a trusted third party to ensure your sensitive data and technology assets are kept safe.
Contact AxiaTP today to learn more about our network penetration testing service and how we can help secure your infrastructure.
