Posted by: Praveen Joshi
August 30, 2023
Continuous improvement is essential in the pen-testing process to effectively address evolving cyber threats. A stalled strategy becomes inadequate as malevolent approaches develop. Pentesters can find new vulnerabilities and model genuine assaults thanks to routinely improved approaches, tools, and techniques. It helps in ensuring the security posture of systems and networks. Moreover, this encourages adaptation, allowing teams to keep ahead of new dangers and include the most recent defensive techniques. By embracing continual development, pen-testers retain their relevance and efficacy. This assists organizations in identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before hostile actors take advantage of them. Thereby protecting sensitive data and upholding trust in a hazardous and dynamic digital environment.
of businesses prioritize risk assessment and remediation during pen testing.
of organizations carry out pen-testing for vulnerability management support.
of companies are not able to find enough resources for remediation even if they find the problem.
of businesses have trouble finding enough qualified third parties to do the pen testing.
In 2023, pen testing has evolved to address the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape. Several trends are shaping the way organizations approach pen testing:
Pen testers concentrate on evaluating the security of cloud infrastructure, platforms, and apps because of the widespread adoption of cloud services. Evaluations of configuration errors, data breaches, and the shared responsibility model in cloud settings are part of this process.
New attack vectors are rising with the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) devices. Pen testers are currently examining the protocols and security of these devices. Also, they are exploring the possible repercussions of hacking crucial industrial systems.
Both attackers and defenders make use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). Pen testers use AI to mimic sophisticated attacks and evaluate the security of AI-based products for flaws.
Organizations are shifting to zero-trust models, which demand constant verification and stringent access controls. Pen testers assess the success of zero-trust deployments and pinpoint potential flaws.
Pen testers evaluate the security of third-party vendors and partners. They do it to thwart potential breaches through the attack vectors that are increasing through supply chain vulnerabilities.
Red team drills, which mimic actual attacks, have advanced in sophistication. They combine digital attacks with social engineering techniques to evaluate an organization’s overall security posture.
To find potential bypasses or vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit, pen testers examine multifactor authentication systems and biometric authentication techniques.
The introduction of 5G networks creates new security difficulties. Penetration testing professionals evaluate the security of the network slicing and edge computing used in 5G infrastructure.
Pen testers replicate ransomware attacks to evaluate an organization’s preparation and response capabilities considering the rise in ransomware assaults.
Pen testers assist organizations in avoiding costly fines by ensuring that systems and processes comply with security regulations. Some basic compliance requirements include the GDPR, CCPA, and other emerging data protection standards.
As part of their security plans, organizations are adopting bug bounty programs. It rewards ethical hackers for finding flaws before hostile actors do.
Blockchain technology continues to gain traction, penetration testers are tasked with assessing the security of various components. Pen Testing ensures the robustness of these elements in the face of potential vulnerabilities and threats.
These trends highlight the increasing complexity and diversity of security challenges that organizations face. Pen testing has changed from being a one-time checkbox activity to an ongoing, flexible process. It tries to proactively find and fix vulnerabilities in a fast-changing digital environment.
