Are you flushing money down the toilet?
You may be if you’re using automated pen testing.
Automated pen testing tools have become popular due to their efficiency and ability to cover broad areas of the infrastructure swiftly. But take a moment and think about what this method predominantly focuses on: the technical infrastructure.
That focus leaves significant gaps in the overall security posture, particularly concerning user-related risks and subtle changes in the infrastructure. Why? Well because these tools often run predefined scripts and scenarios that can miss out-of-the-box tactics employed by real-world attackers.
A Critical Limitation
One critical limitation of automated pen testing is its inability to fully understand and adapt to nuanced changes in an organization’s infrastructure. As networks evolve and new technologies are adopted, automated tools may not immediately recognize new potential threat vectors or changes in existing configurations. This delay can leave your systems exposed longer than necessary.
Automated tests often lack the creativity and insight of a skilled human tester. They’re programmed to look for known vulnerabilities in predictable ways. However, cyber threats are constantly evolving, requiring adaptive and innovative approaches to identify and mitigate risks effectively.
The Value of Human Intervention
The value of having a dedicated team conducting your pen tests cannot be overstated. A specialized third-party team brings a fresh perspective to your security strategies, operating independently from the teams that design and maintain your security systems. This separation ensures unbiased findings and recommendations, essential for a robust defense strategy.
A third-party team also employs diverse tactics that automated tools typically do not. For instance, they can simulate social engineering attacks, such as phishing, which are often more realistic and test the human element of cybersecurity. These tactics reflect actual attacker behaviors more closely than many automated tests, which rarely venture beyond straightforward technical exploits.
The Triad of Effective Pen Testing: Tools, Tactics, Team
To evaluate your pen testing strategy through the lens of "Tools, Tactics, Team" is crucial.
Let’s take a look at each of these:
- Tools: Are the pen testing tools distinct from those used in your regular cybersecurity operations? Using different tools can uncover vulnerabilities that might be overlooked by your everyday cybersecurity solutions.
- Tactics: Does the pen test incorporate realistic attack scenarios? It's rare for attackers to request installation of a physical device. Instead, they often lure users to click malicious links. Your pen testing should mimic these tactics to provide a realistic assessment of vulnerabilities.
- Team: Is the pen testing team independent of the team providing your cybersecurity solutions? Independence is critical to ensure that the test results are objective and that the testers are not influenced by pre-existing knowledge or biases.
The Third-Party Pen Testing Mandate
Recent trends in cyber insurance and compliance standards underscore the need for third-party pen testing. Independent assessments are increasingly required to meet compliance obligations and to qualify for cyber insurance coverage. This shift reflects a broader recognition of the value that third-party evaluators bring in maintaining rigorous security standards.
Are you worried about moving away from automated pen testing in favor of more comprehensive, third-party evaluations?
Just think about how this move is going to super-charge your MSP. Your investment in human-driven pen testing can lead to more nuanced insights, a deeper understanding of emerging risks, and a stronger overall cybersecurity posture. By embracing a more holistic approach to penetration testing, MSPs can better protect themselves and their clients from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
No more flushing money down the toilet!
