Amid Rising Cyber Threats, Organisations Urged to Integrate Audits and Penetration Testing for Robust Information Security.
In an era where data breaches have become increasingly rampant, the equation for long-term savings in cybersecurity is clear: Audits + Testing. Recent years have seen a surge in cyberattacks, with almost nine out of 10 companies experiencing disruptions, damages, or breaches. However, despite the escalating risks and the soaring costs associated with data breaches, over half of large companies are failing to adequately thwart attacks, mitigate their impact, and swiftly address breaches.
The prevailing issue lies in a common practice among businesses—waiting until a breach occurs to take action, often due to attempts to cut corners on security audits and testing to save time and money. The consequences of this short-sighted approach, however, rarely result in the anticipated long-term savings.
How Audits and Pentesting Work Together to Strengthen Security:
Compliance audits and penetration testing (pentesting) play pivotal roles in evaluating, rectifying, and fortifying an organisation's security configuration. A compliance audit scrutinises a business's security practices against regulatory and industry standards, ensuring alignment with best practices. Meanwhile, penetration testing involves simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities that might be exploited by malicious actors.
Ethical hackers discovered over 65,000 vulnerabilities in 2022 alone, underscoring the importance of these assessments in enhancing overall security posture. The integration of audits and testing provides actionable insights and recommendations, allowing organisations to patch vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
How to Ensure Your Security Investments Pay Off:
Despite growing investments in cybersecurity, the average business allocates only 15% of its IT budget to this critical area. To ensure a significant return on security investments, organisations are advised to set clear goals that align with their security requirements. These goals should focus on industry standards, organisational needs, and specific security configurations.
A cohesive strategy that integrates audits and testing is essential for effective cybersecurity. By conducting audits and pentesting in tandem, organisations can identify potential vulnerabilities, assess security weaknesses, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Target's experience, passing a PCI-DSS audit shortly before a massive data breach, serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the importance of a comprehensive security strategy.
Prioritising scope and substance in audits and testing is crucial. While costs may vary, investing in comprehensive assessments ensures long-term benefits for the organisation. Ongoing assessments, conducted regularly, are imperative in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Neglecting proactive security measures for short-term savings increases the risk of data breaches and compliance violations, leading to substantial financial losses.
The maths is clear: Skimping on security now may result in higher costs later. Integrating routine audits and penetration testing into a broader security strategy is the key to identifying, addressing, and preventing potential threats, ultimately safeguarding an organisation's long-term health and safety in the face of evolving cyber threats.
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