When you’re trying to secure your web applications and networks, you need to test them regularly. This is a must, but it can be time-consuming to ensure that you’re able to do it right.
Continuous testing is the process of testing a network or application in the same way, every day. It allows you to quickly identify the most common issues, which can lead to better security.
In this post, we’ll discuss how you can use continuous penetration testing to test your network and applications. We’ll also share a few tips on how to use continuous testing to increase your security.
Continuous penetration testing provides an IT security strategy, offers excellent protection from cyber threats, and helps maintain and improve security posture throughout the year. It is ideal for areas that standard penetration testing does not fit. Standard penetration testing is a simple procedure used in an application’s security posture.
Continuous penetration testing is cost-effective, works efficiently and helps to manage dynamic risks. You might get companies testing your system minimal times in a year; hence, risking them to new attacks and becoming vulnerable. Currently, testing your security annually is not sufficient to protect your application or network from cyber threats that are continuously evolving.
But with companies performing your continuous penetration services, you can rest assured that your network or application is being looked after every time. Other continuous testing services include managed vulnerability scans (MVS), penetration tests, cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and phishing assessments.
How Continuous Penetration Testing Works
It works by being triggered when a change is identified in the network being operated on or when there is a change in the threat landscape. The testing method works by eliminating surprises to your organization as it guides it to an improved security posture.
It is efficient because the latest techniques are constantly tested monthly. This leads to the testing styles such as the red team, purple team and overt adapting as your organization’s security posture matures.
The following are actions that are performed to focus on testing efforts;
- Change detection. A pen tester should review your asset if there is any change, and this helps them determine if this warrants human-driven security testing.
- Reoccurring asset discovery works with an automated OSINT that helps identify new threat models or new attack surfaces.
- The task at hand/testing like assets. It tests all the email servers of all clients once, which reduces task repetition. This makes this service affordable and allows testing to concentrate on frequent and unique aspects of your environment.
The Benefits of Continuous Penetration Testing
1. It provides all-year protection
Your application can suffer from so many threats within a year. Therefore, continuous testing services are provided all year round to ensure your security posture is improved on the current basis and also maintained.
2. Comply with the Security Standards
To carry out penetration testing, you have to have complied with the security standards. You have to meet a number of regulatory standards. Therefore, any continuous testing company has complied with all security standards.
3. Deals with Fast Techniques
The abuse of built-in tools that executes code is released daily. So, your team is always overwhelmed with tasks where they must have vast working knowledge in the environment.
Pen testers that perform the attacks daily are always available to free them up and determine if you are prone to the new techniques.
4. Prevents Unexpected Niches
Waiting for a whole year for a pen test to reveal new vulnerabilities is not a good approach. It reduces gaps and the missed vulnerabilities that come out when it is already too late. Continuous testing also reduces the exposure times.
5. It is Cost Effective
Testing email servers at once across all the clients reduces repetitive tasks, making these services affordable.
6. It Reduces the Chances of Risking
It provides you with the data you need to solve the available vulnerabilities. Continuous penetration tester companies provide expert support that remediates quickly and effectively. This reduces the chances of any risk to your organization.
Sam Collier is the founder of Fifium, a web and mobile application development blog dedicated to sharing expert knowledge and insights in the tech industry. With over 15 years of combined experience among its developers, Fifium started as a small group of like-minded professionals passionate about mobile development and has grown into a respected source of information and guides.
