How to choose a penetration testing provider for your business
Cyber security is of utmost importance in today’s increasingly digital world, especially with the number of cyberattacks and data breaches we’ve seen in the last 12 months.
Penetration testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of an organisation’s systems, applications and networks. However, choosing the right provider for your penetration testing needs can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine the best provider that can offer you high-quality services, at a reasonable price.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the top tips for choosing the right cyber security partner or penetration testing service provider. Read on to get top tips about the importance of experience, certifications, and price in your decision making process.
Experience
Experience is one of the more important factors when choosing a penetration testing provider. Of course, the more experience that a team of penetration testers at a provider are more likely to uncover a wider range of security threats.
It’s also important to ensure that the provider has relevant experience in the technologies your business is using. If the provider doesn’t have experience in the specific technology, they should be able to learn and adapt quickly based on their existing knowledge and skills.
Certifications
Certifications are an excellent place to start when evaluating a potential provider. They provide a quick and straightforward way to build trust and assess the provider’s level of expertise. The Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) is one of the most well recognised certifications in the cyber security industry and the gold standard in quality penetration testing. CREST certifies both companies and individual testers, ensuring that they follow best practices and use appropriate security testing methodologies.
CREST accreditation gives organisations seeking Penetration Testing Services with confidence the work will be carried out by qualified individuals with the latest knowledge, skills and competence of vulnerabilities and techniques used by real attackers.
CREST offers various levels of certifications for individual testers, from entry-level to specialised exams in different areas of security. To achieve CREST accreditation, companies and individual pen testers must meet multiple criteria covering operating procedures and standards, personnel security and development and of course their own data security and security testing methodologies. They also have to supply insurance certificates, sample client contracts and terms and copies of standards compliance certificates e.g., ISO 27001 and ISO 9001.
Learn more about CREST penetration testing and its benefits.
Price
The cost of a penetration test varies greatly, depending on the size and complexity of the system or application being tested. Most providers quote their services on a day rate basis, with prices ranging from £800 to £1500. The day rate varies based on the provider’s reputation, certifications, and specific requirements and experience.
It’s important to understand the scope and length of the job before you can assess what budget will be needed. Different providers may estimate the same job differently, and it’s crucial to ask questions and gather information about the provider’s approach and methodology.
Not all penetration testing services are created equal. Make sure that you’re not being sold a vulnerability scan under the guise of a full penetration test. Penetration testing is an entirely different service from a vulnerability assessment or vulnerability scan. The two often are confused, not helped by providers dressing up a simple vulnerability scan with a full penetration testing service. Ensure you’re not paying for an inferior or unsuitable service.
Penetration testing will provide a much more comprehensive view of current security risks. Think of penetration testing as picking up from where the vulnerability assessment ends, to attempt to gain access and infiltrate like a hacker would.
You can download the ‘Top Tips for Choosing the Best Penetration Testing Partner for Your Business‘ for your complete guide.
DigitalXRAID is a leading provider of penetration testing services, and we take pride in our expertise, experience and commitment to quality. Our team of highly skilled and certified pen testers holds certifications from CREST and additionally government CHECK scheme accreditation, ensuring that our work is of the highest quality and meets industry standards.
Our pen testers are experienced in a wide range of technologies and have a deep understanding of the latest security threats to ensure no vulnerabilities are left undiscovered. We use a thorough and systematic approach to uncover all potential weaknesses and provide actionable recommendations for mitigating any risks.
Our penetration testing services are designed to meet your specific needs, and our team of certified security experts use the latest tools and techniques to identify potential vulnerabilities and areas for improvement in your network and application architecture.
Our goal is not just to identify security issues, but to provide actionable recommendations and solutions to help you improve your overall security posture. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, we have the experience and expertise to help you secure your digital assets and protect your sensitive information.
For more information on how we can support you in staying a step ahead of cyber criminals with a range of CREST penetration testing services, get in contact. For an in-depth view and tailored quote, scope your project.
