In modern conditions, every business, organization or enterprise requires the support of its IT subsystems. After all, access to the network is not only an expansion of corporate capabilities, but also countless challenges and dangers.
According to statistics, about 60% of the most important corporate data is stored in local networks, personal computers, and mailboxes of employees. At the same time, the mobility of computer equipment is increasing: the ability to work outside the office through remote control, during business trips, and so on. This is the main reason why the number of data leaks has increased by 62% over the last 2-3 years (according to Symantec). More importantly, 44% of them are intentional (according to InfoWatch).
Therefore, the leaders of various organizations are increasingly resorting to the audit of information systems, which allows you to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities in the security system. In this way, they want to stop unauthorized intrusion into their local network. But in addition to the traditional audit, there is also direct testing of the system. This procedure creates realistic conditions and simulates an attempt to penetrate the security system of the organization from the outside. Such a demonstration hacking and testing for resistance to intrusion demonstrates the level of security of the system. The name of this procedure is penetration testing.
What threatens illegal penetration into the network
One of the largest examples of remote intrusion into another's network in 2018 is the theft of personal data of 1.5 million SingHealth customers in Singapore. Not only ordinary citizens were affected, but even the Prime Minister and some officials. Yes, cybercriminals have been able to obtain a huge array of data about patients in clinics, including their names, addresses, dates of birth and even data documents. Despite all of SingHealth's excuses that the attack was carefully planned, the reputation of medical facilities was undermined.
By the way, data leakage can occur not only in such large companies. At risk are any, even small organizations, because each of them is of interest to fraudsters and third parties. In any case, paying more attention to the company's information security system, SingHealth management would not be in a similar situation.
Well-known American businessman Warren Buffett claims that it takes 20 years to build a business reputation, and less than 5 minutes to lose. Indeed, illegal intrusion can mean:
loss of personal and corporate data of the company;
reduction of its shares and profits;
numerous complaints and lawsuits;
loss of senior management;
falling brand image, etc.
As a result, any leak or unauthorized intrusion into the company's database can have unforgettable consequences. That is why business actively uses penetration testing. The purpose of this test is to determine whether the current level of security of IT systems can withstand the intrusion of a potential cybercriminal.
The system is tested according to the following scheme:
· Data collection. This will help to learn more about the operating conditions of all systems and subsystems, to choose the best test penetration scheme. It is important to consider the types and versions of devices used, operating systems, servers.
· Intervention. According to the previously planned scenario, experts perform a penetration test to assess vulnerabilities. This happens in manual and automatic modes to get the most information.
· Compilation of a report. In it, experts provide a complete list of technical and organizational recommendations for improving the security system. If the pentest was not performed due to high safety standards, the company will receive additional advice on reducing the cost of its needs in this matter.
After the pentest you may need to develop and implement data protection systems, security control and further maintenance.
Attackers have many ways to enter illegally. Most often they use malicious advertising, phishing attacks, hidden downloads, etc. Once you have access to the required object, the cybercriminal has every opportunity to seize confidential data, make changes to the database and other illegal actions. In fact, it is easy for them to achieve their goals if the company does not take care of information security and does not conduct a security penetration test (penetration test).
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