What to Know When Selecting Pen Testing Companies

Protecting the internal infrastructure of an organisation requires in-depth investigation and time constraints, which is why the global market is in need of the expertise of pen testing companies. Thru the help of their specialists, they deliver accurate diagnosis and efficient solutions once cyber hackers and other technical issues plague an institution. Undoubtedly, plenty of these types of companies would guarantee top system analysis maximum security among clients. A few things must be investigated to identify which among the candidates is best with many risks involved. These include how they secure data, their remediation services, their qualifications, how they attack vector simulations, their number of researchers, the way they discover vulnerabilities, their certifications, and the price of their services. To know what makes each factor beneficial, read on.

Secured data

A penetration test may uncover some serious vulnerabilities in your technical infrastructure, which can significantly impact your business operations at large if exploited successfully. All this information remains stored with a service provider even after a penetration test has been completed. Conscientious pen testing companies ensure the security of confidential data and inform about the steps to be taken to maintain high levels of security.

Remediation service

Many times, an organisation acquires a penetration testing service. After a test is concluded, they only end up getting a basic vulnerability scan and nothing more. A penetration testing service provider may conduct an in-depth test but may not offer remediation of the vulnerabilities, while some service providers believe in building trustworthy relationships in the long run and offer full-fledged remediation services. Business managers should select the latter over the former.

Qualifications

So often, penetration testing providers sell their services in the name of their most senior expert, and at the time of an actual test, they send junior personnel without sufficient experience. This might not be the case with every penetration testing service provider. Still, it may lead to poor tests, testing incidents, and a direct impact on your business. Top pentesting companies responsibly inform about their specialists’ qualifications, backgrounds, and work experiences in charge of executing a penetration test in an organisation.

Attack vector simulation

A good pen testing company can simulate a full spectrum of attack vector across networks, hosts and application layers. The best penetration testing companies execute attack vectors, including deprecated cyphers, remote code execution, and cross-site scripting.

The number of researchers

A traditional security testing firm will typically appoint one to three researchers for a pen test, and they often choose entry-level testers. More ethical hackers participating in a penetration test means diverse skills will yield more varied vulnerabilities. Pen testers must restrict hackers who are experts at finding database vulnerabilities and specialise in testing particular software frameworks.

Vulnerabilities

Hire pen testers from top pentesting companies who can discover vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Thus, discovering more vulnerabilities is better. There are pen-testing companies that pay-per-report to complete the assignment and charge according to an hourly basis. Typically, there are no bonuses for the number, severity or diversity of vulnerabilities detected. Hackers conduct pen testing that is only paid if they identify a vulnerability.

Certifications

Certifications from the best penetration testing companies are the first thing institutions should look for because they can validate and establish trust. There’s no shortage of professional certifications available worldwide. Still, in the UK, there are some of the well-recognised certifications. These certifications prove that the testing consultancies can precisely solve your problem. They are usually an internationally recognised hallmark of quality for various cybersecurity disciplines.

Price

The normal cost for a penetration test is what people often ask. Unfortunately, due to the variety in size and complexity of IT systems, this is like asking how long a piece of string is. It depends on what you are working with and how much depth you need to go to. If you imagine it like painting a bridge, it depends on how big your bridge is and how many coats of paint you want; just a thin covering might leave you exposed to the elements. Day rates vary based on reputation, certifications, and special requirements for the tester’s experience. However, discounts can be negotiated if you’re buying many days (anything more than fifteen days would be considered a large test).

Once business institutions do the discussed aspects, they can be relieved of the hassles in searching for trustworthy pen testing companies. Managers from different organisations would recognise the best of the best by researching how they secure data, their remediation services, their qualifications, how they attack vector simulations, their number of researchers, the way they discover vulnerabilities, their certifications, and the price of their services. Indeed, these features would guarantee a proficient searching process.