Evolve Your Security Testing with Pen Testing as a Service in 2023

A new approach to security testing called Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS) is gaining popularity among organizations as a way to save time and money.

With the expansion of organizations’ digital footprints, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, has introduced new security risks. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are now expected to manage cybersecurity risks and transition from technologists to corporate leaders.

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According to IBM’s Cost of Data Breach Report 2022, the average global cost of a data breach has reached $4.35 million, and in the U.S., it’s a staggering $9.44 million. The adoption of remote work has further increased the cost by $1.07 million. One reason for these issues is the lack of visibility into organizations’ expanding external attack surfaces. Disparate teams, such as Cloud Engineering and AppSec teams, often launch devices and cloud instances without informing the Security Operations Center (SOC), leaving CISOs unaware of critical exposures and vulnerabilities.

The Security Testing Landscape Is Changing

To combat evolving cybersecurity threats, regular security testing is crucial. However, legacy solutions have been inadequate in preventing known vulnerabilities from being pushed into production. Considering the failure rate and the lack of innovation, the traditional approach to security testing is no longer enough. By using experienced Pentesters equipped with advanced technology and tools, organizations can accelerate turnaround time and improve security outcomes. This is where Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS) comes into play, offering the latest advancements in security testing.

PTaaS involves simulating attacks on an organization’s systems to identify weaknesses that could be exploited by cybercriminals. It follows the typical phases of a traditional pentesting engagement, with the initial discovery phase revealing critical risks and vulnerabilities that need immediate remediation. PTaaS goes beyond a one-time security test and provides capabilities for continuous security testing, including CI/CD security testing. It allows in-house teams to test infrastructure using advanced tools, rather than relying solely on human pen testers and proprietary tools.

Benefits of Transitioning to PTaaS

There are numerous benefits to transitioning to PTaaS. From affordability, flexibility, and more, the opportunities to improve security outcomes while reducing TCO at the same time are significant. With the challenges of today’s economy coupled with the cybersecurity skills gap, the benefits can truly augment in-house teams and extend a security program’s capabilities and metrics, such as mean time to discover, remediate, and resolve.

These are the high-level PTaaS benefits that a Security Leader can expect to achieve with a trusted, proven provider.

PTaaS Benefits

• Saves Costs and Time: reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and provides integrated remediation guidance to meet pentesting requirements faster
• Results are Accurate: accurate results with certified penetration testers
• Prepare for Compliance Audits: validates compliance requirements
• Gain Visibility: reveals attack surface exposures
• Offers Flexibility allows scalability without hiring additional resources
• Enables Agility enables agility for DevSecOps teams with API workflow integrations
• Continuous Testing and Vulnerability Scanning: supports continuous security testing throughout the PTaaS subscription

Selecting a PTaaS provider

When selecting a PTaaS provider, it’s crucial to identify industry leaders. The leading PTaaS providers have engineered their service delivery to accelerate pentest delivery by using cloud platforms and automation tools. Sehgal suggests asking eight key questions to ensure the maximum value from a PTaaS investment.

These questions cover topics such as the company’s qualifications, penetration testing methodology, content of the penetration testing report, cyber security management, inclusion of remediation services, level of automation, qualifications of testing personnel, and availability of services during a penetration test.

1. What qualifications does the company have?

Certifications play a crucial role in establishing the credibility of service providers by showcasing their commitment to industry-standard practices. If you’re searching for a reliable and skilled penetration testing service provider, it’s advisable to check if they hold the CREST (The Council for Registered Ethical Security Testers) certification. Adherence to various international laws and regulations is essential to ensure the reliability of the final report. You can ask your provider for proof of their formal credentials, such as ISO/IEC 27001:2013, PCI DSS, as well as compliance with HIPAA and GDPR.

In addition, reputable companies in the Pen Testing as a Service sector have earned recognition from esteemed analyst firms like Gartner Research, Forrester, and IDC. It is beneficial to seek out these acknowledgments and references in the field of pen testing as a service and DevSecOps security testing to identify the trailblazers and leading figures who are shaping the industry for optimal customer success.

2. What is the penetration testing methodology used in PTaaS?

To ensure the PTaaS vendor’s alignment with your organization’s specific infrastructure, people, technologies, objectives, and challenges, it is important to confirm their preferred frameworks, methodologies, and strategies. Recognizing that there is no universal approach that fits every organization, it is essential to find a PTaaS provider who understands your unique needs.

A reliable PTaaS provider will assign a dedicated expert to guide you through the process. This representative will provide an overview of the available methodologies and assist you in determining the most suitable plan for your organization. When initiating a penetration test for your organization, it is beneficial to refer to the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) as a starting point.

3. What is included in the penetration testing report?

Gaining insight into the weaknesses of your technical infrastructure is facilitated by a penetration testing report. Such a report serves as a valuable point of reference for your internal team, even beyond the completion of the test, aiding in the planning of their operations. To ensure you select the appropriate provider, you can request that they present a report from a previous project or a sample report for your review.

A compliant penetration test report will include these standard sections:

• Executive Summary
• Vulnerability Overview
• Vulnerability Details
• Risk Score (such as CVSS)
• Action Plan for Remediation
• Conclusion

4. How is cyber security managed in the company?

A penetration test is designed to uncover vulnerabilities in your company’s IT defenses. Exploiting these vulnerabilities could lead to expensive repercussions for your business. It’s crucial to note that all the data gathered during the penetration test remains in the possession of the service provider even after the test is completed. Therefore, it is essential to take the initiative to inquire about the measures they have in place to ensure the security of your information once the engagement concludes. Additionally, it is important to understand the steps they undertake to maintain a high level of security for their customers.

5. Does your penetration testing service include remediation?

While many organizations opt for penetration testing services, it’s common for them to receive only a rudimentary vulnerability scan instead of a thorough penetration test. Certain providers of penetration testing services prioritize long-term partnerships and provide extensive remediation services. On the other hand, some providers only conduct the initial penetration test, leaving DevSecOps to handle remediation in isolation.

As a decision maker for your business, it is advisable to choose a PTaaS provider that goes beyond the basics. Look for a provider that incorporates DevOps guidance into their services, as this fosters a long-term relationship that streamlines remediation efforts and supports ongoing security testing. By choosing such a provider, you can establish a comprehensive and collaborative approach to ensure continuous security and efficient remediation activities.

6. Is your penetration testing service automated or manual?

Although automated tools serve a purpose in penetration testing, they have limitations of their own. They may overlook significant vulnerabilities with high risks that can only be identified through manual testing performed by skilled professionals. As a general guideline, it is recommended that at least 80% of testing activities be conducted manually, while the remaining portion can be tool-based.

Modern PTaaS providers employ advanced technologies such as AI and sophisticated automation to complement the expertise of human penetration testers leading each exercise. By continually advancing their practical applications, these providers allow customers to leverage their cutting-edge technology without the burden of owning and maintaining each technology in-house. This approach enables qualified PTaaS providers to significantly reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for security leaders, who can allocate resources and technology wisely for the highest return on investment and achieve optimal security outcomes.

7. Who would be conducting a penetration test and what are their qualifications?

When choosing a PTaaS provider, it is vital to find a partner who aligns with your compliance and security requirements, as the security testers they employ will have access to your systems and sensitive data. Ensuring that the testing personnel have a solid background is crucial. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct interviews with potential service providers to assess the qualifications, background checks, and previous work experience of their testing team.

Many organizations overlook this step, which can result in hiring individuals who falsify their credentials or, worse, have been convicted of data theft. That is why numerous CTOs and CIOs prefer to work exclusively with PTaaS providers that have an in-house team of penetration and security testers, rather than relying on freelancers and contracted bug bounty hunters. It is extremely challenging to guarantee thorough background checks for crowdsourced staffing, contractors, and bug bounty hunters available for hire in today’s pentesting marketplace.

8. Will my services remain available during a penetration test?

It is unrealistic for any service provider to guarantee uninterrupted service availability during a test. The objective of testing is to identify security vulnerabilities within the technical infrastructure. Nevertheless, by partnering with the appropriate PTaaS provider, you will have a dedicated contact who will maintain frequent communication to promptly address any potential service disruptions and minimize downtime as much as possible. Additionally, customer controls, such as a real-time ‘kill switch’ and reliable customer support, can effectively manage risks and ensure that workloads are not adversely affected throughout the penetration testing engagement.

Accelerate Pentesting Now with the Proven Leader in PTaaS

BreachLock is a proven leader in PTaaS with full-stack penetration tests conducted by in-house, certified penetration testers using AI-enabled automation. Our cloud-native penetration testing platform reduces turnaround time and costs by 50%. To see how AI-enabled, human-led security testing can work in your environment using the PTaaS platform and next generation technology to secure your environment, contact BreachLock today.