Today is a time of frequent data breaches, automated hacking systems, and all types of consumer protection regulations like DSS, PCI, and GDPR. Because of this, penetration testing is now considered an essential security requirement for all types and sizes of businesses, not just governments and banks.
This means that many businesses find themselves in a situation where they must find the right penetration testing company. While there are many service providers available, it’s imperative to find one who can address your needs and concerns. Some tips to help you make this important decision can be found here.
Experience of the Team
When it comes to penetration testing, experience matters; the more exposure a tester has had to different projects, the more likely they are to be able to discover all types of security threats.
You should also note that not all experience is equal. Some testing types involve certain skills and specific technologies. Be sure the provider you are considering has the necessary experience for the different types of technology they will work with.
There may not be a tester with experience handling all the different technologies your business uses.
Because of this, it’s important to remain flexible. A quality tester can learn about the technology that needs to be tested based on principles and skills they have gained elsewhere. However, it could take them some time to learn about the technology in question. Because of this, the final cost may reflect the additional time required.
Specialization
Remember the saying, “a Jack of all trades is a master of none;” it rings true when it comes to penetration testing. At BSG, we specialize in pentesting. We know the ins and outs of the process and work to keep up with technology and industry changes to ensure our services meet the needs of modern businesses.
Certifications
When searching for a penetration testing company, it’s imperative to look for one that has the necessary professional certificates. In fact, this is one of the first things you should consider because they can help provide a bit of a shortcut when it comes to building trust with a certain vendor.
Some of the ones to look for include:
- GXPN
- GPEN
- OSCE
- OSCP
These prove the company’s and team’s ability to deliver the high-quality services modern businesses demand. It’s also essential that the company provides you with a sample pentest report, which provides an example of the possible outcome of the project. The inability or refusal to do this is a red flag and means you should move on to a different service provider.
Keep in mind that when you start looking at the company’s certifications, be sure you ask about the tester handling your project.
For example, are they holding all these certifications? Do they have the necessary experience to handle the project? Asking this is essential if you want to get the best possible results.
Manual Testing
Manual tests are a must for any effective penetration testing process. While many companies use automation scans today, these aren’t as effective or detailed as manual scans.
Investing in manual testing is worth the money. Traditional automated scans will only review vulnerabilities. The results include many false positives and miss areas where the security assessment requires a human touch. Professional judgment and human intelligence are still a big part of the entire penetration testing process today.
While vulnerability assessments (VAs) are an important part of your business’s internal security program, they aren’t comprehensive like penetration testing is. The manual penetration test provides higher quality results because it depends on the use of special skills and a human touch.
Excellent Client References
When it comes to finding a quality penetration testing company, seeing what past clients have to say is a must. Some factors to consider when reading review include:
- Did the company provide timely services?
- Did the service provide VA or manual testing or both?
- Did the company provide competitive prices?
You can read several client references on sites like GoodFirms, theManifest, and Clutch about the services offered by Berezha Security Group. Also, contacting our team will put you in touch with other professionals who can provide even more client references and referrals.
Pricing
The cost of penetration services is a huge concern, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Because of this, it is a good idea to shop around to find the best pricing available.
Just because someone offers the lowest price doesn’t mean they provide the most value.
You should also consider the factors above to find the right company for the job.
At Berezha Security Group, we provide customized pricing for each business and each job. While this is true, most external and internal pentests range from $5,000 to $20,000 — factors like the size of your company and the complexity of the project impact the final cost.
Some of the services you get for this price point include:
- Education and resources to reduce the likelihood of future hacking attacks.
- Testing of cyber defenses in place by “ethical hacking” and by simulating a real cyberattack.
- Comply with the ISO27000 and PCI DSS pentesting requirements.
- Fix issues found and receive a free retest within the 60 days.
- Receive a discount for any recurring services
Penetration Testing
Along with the initial testing, our team offers free retests during the 60 days after the initial test. This ensures that all the issues we found are fixed and that your company is not vulnerable.
IT Security Compliance
All the security services we offer conform to all the applicable requirements in place. This includes:
- ISO27001
- SOC2
- GDPR
- PCI DSS
- PSD2
Our team takes pride in ensuring we meet and exceed requirements in the penetration testing industry to ensure you get the high-quality, accurate results you want and need.
Professional Liability Insurance
When you have a third party come into your business to do anything, ensuring they are properly insured is a must. After all, what would happen if the work they did actually harmed your systems rather than helped? Without professional liability insurance, your business would have to pay all the related costs and damages.
By hiring a penetration testing company with professional liability insurance, you can feel confident that your systems and business have an additional layer of protection.
Finding the Right Penetration Testing Company for Your Business’s Needs
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing a penetration testing company. Take some time to review the information above to know what to look for and how to narrow down the options.
Team experience, certificates, customer reviews, cost, compliance with standards, insurance — all this needs to be paid attention to. But first of all, we advise you to talk to professionals, tell them about your problems and concerns, to make sure that you really need a penetration test. You can contact BSG specialists, and they will be happy to consult you, and, if necessary, provide the highest class penetration testing services.
Our goal is to help ensure that all vulnerabilities and issues are found and fixed to protect your business, data, and growth potential. Knowing what to look for and expect will help you find the right company for your needs.
Be safe.