In today’s increasingly volatile landscape where the threat of cyber attacks is becoming more prolific, many organisations now well understand the importance of penetration testing in protecting their assets, employees, and reputation. However, as technologies continue rapidly advancing, new vulnerabilities emerge, and attackers adopt more sophisticated strategies, security managers are increasingly becoming aware of the need for more regular assessments and their value. Below, we look at an overview of continuous penetration testing, how it works, and how it helps bolster your cybersecurity posture.

Understanding continuous penetration testing

As a quick refresher, penetration testing, more commonly referred to as pen tests in Singapore, is an ethical cybersecurity assessment that lets businesses improve their digital security. These tests cover various types of assessments ranging from internal or external infrastructure to social engineering. Since conventional periodic pen tests only reveal snapshots of an organisation’s network, it may no longer suffice to keep them secure for the long term as many developments can take place in the world of cybersecurity in a matter of weeks or months.

The solution to this is continuous penetration testing. Continuous pen tests can add to their impact by providing more regular insights into potential security gaps. In conjunction with annual pen testing, companies can more effectively identify, address, and eliminate shortcomings in their on-site and remote IT environments.

How continuous pen tests work

As its name implies, continuous pen testing entails a series of constant assessments conducted in response to developments in the threat landscape or changes in a network. Continuous pen tests are completed using a combination of manual interventions and automated processes.

A full and comprehensive pen test provides a baseline that continuous pen tests use for its repeating cycle, which includes defining scope and expectations, identifying assets, performing the testing process, remediation, re-testing and validation, and monitoring new vulnerabilities. Besides monitoring for changes, the system also tracks existing results for vulnerabilities which require testing.

The advantages of continuous pen tests

● Be a step ahead of attackers’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)

Given the constant changes in the sophistication and volume of tools, continuous pen tests let organisations stay at pace with emerging vulnerabilities and reduce their exposure window.

● Improve visibility of day-to-day security posture

Regular assessments for vulnerabilities guarantee organisations a better perspective on their cybersecurity under any circumstances.

● Reduce costs

Continuous pen tests make it easier to manage security costs and related budgeting by identifying and addressing security flaws constantly. Moreover, it reduces the time spent on unplanned work while ensuring IT operations are more cost-effective and efficient.

● Meet regulatory compliance requirements more effectively

Organisations must always ensure that they adhere to numerous compliance standards and regulations related to information security. Pen testing is required in many cases - either implied through the need to build an assessment or audit process for mitigating cybersecurity risk or directly specified within the standard. Continuous pen tests help organisations achieve this by providing updated and specific evidence at any given point in time.

Conclusion

Despite the host of benefits it brings, continuous pen testing should not be seen as a replacement for an existing quarterly or annual pen testing schedule. Combining both approaches yields the best results as the two tests complement each other. Continuous pen testing reduces the severity and volume of issues identified through annual pen testing, giving you a clearer picture of your organisation’s security posture.

To get started with continuous penetration testing, get in touch with GROUP8 today, Singapore’s leading cyber intelligence and cybersecurity company specialising in offensive-inspired cyber defence. Our comprehensive ecosystem of cybersecurity solutions includes CREST penetration testing, incident response, web and network security, blockchain security, and many more. Reach out to us at hello@group8.co and get the tailored solutions you need for your organisation.