{"id":3358,"date":"2020-01-08T11:58:43","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T16:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/?p=3358"},"modified":"2020-01-08T11:58:43","modified_gmt":"2020-01-08T16:58:43","slug":"how-to-improve-your-it-security-with-regular-penetration-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/how-to-improve-your-it-security-with-regular-penetration-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Your IT Security With Regular Penetration Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"person<\/a>Maintaining the strongest possible defenses against cybercrime has become an ongoing challenge and top priority for all kinds of businesses as hackers continue to successfully breach corporate networks<\/a> at an alarming rate. In the first six months of 2019 alone, there were 3,813 reported breaches that exposed more than 4.1 billion records, according to a report from RiskBased Security<\/a>. That\u2019s a 54 percent increase from the first half of 2018.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s only one of many scary statistics<\/a> on the state of cybercrime these days. With malicious actors releasing new kinds of malware every day and constantly cooking up new tactics for accessing private data, it\u2019s imperative that business leaders invest in cybersecurity and maintain a comprehensive and proactive approach to safeguarding their IT environments.<\/p>\n

One security solution<\/a> that can help your organization stop hackers from getting their hands on private data is penetration testing<\/a>, also known as pen testing or ethical hacking, according to TechTarget SearchSecurity<\/a>. A pen test is essentially a simulated cyberattack against a specific aspect of your IT environment.<\/p>\n

Basically, a pen test is a way to check whether the security solutions and defenses you have in place actually work when someone tries to get around them. This is essential for any organization looking to achieve the best possible security posture. It\u2019s also required to achieve compliance with industry-specific regulations, such as SOC 2, PCI DSS and HIPAA<\/a>.\u00a0
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The Pen Testing Process: What to Expect<\/h2>\n

To carry out a penetration test, an ethical hacker\/cybersecurity professional will attempt to infiltrate a particular part of your network. Because pen tests require advanced hacking skills, you\u2019ll want to work with a third-party provider that\u2019s capable of safely and effectively executing the procedure. Additionally, Cisco advises<\/a> consulting with experts before beginning pen testing to make sure your network isn\u2019t damaged in the process.<\/p>\n

Although you\u2019re checking your IT environment for weak points, it\u2019s also important to note that a pen test is distinct from a general vulnerability scan<\/a> in that it is a simulated attack on a specific facet of your network. This blog entry<\/a> offers a detailed explanation of the difference between the two IT security tools, if you\u2019re interested in learning more.<\/p>\n

There are various types of penetration tests, depending on your objectives and which part of your network you\u2019d like to check for weaknesses. Here are some of the different kinds of pen tests available:<\/p>\n