All businesses, whether big or small, must always ensure that all the pertinent data are highly protected. It is the reason why most companies hire a third-party service provider to conduct penetration testing to determine if there are any security weaknesses. It is also conducted to check out the security policy of the organisation.
While some companies contemplate assigning a team from their company to deal with the security test of the network, most would choose to hire a third-party penetration testing service provider. They prefer an outsider’s point of view to provide a non-bias evaluation of the company’s security system.
If you are considering hiring a penetration testing service provider, here are several tips to help you find the right vendor for your needs:
Tip #1: Analyse The Vendor’s Technology Achievements
One of the first things that your company must do to check if the penetration testing vendor is credible in doing the tests is the technology and tools that they use when conducting the process. You also need to determine if the vendor has a good reputation and is well respected in the security research industry.
You also need to find out if the vendor was able to publish original technology research that tackles vulnerability or penetration testing topics.
Tip #2: Concentrate On The Vendor’S Actual Knowledge, Not The Certificates
If you choose to put all your concentration on the vendor’s certification and achievement, you may eventually ignore some of the best penetration testers in your area. As a budding industry, penetration testing has yet to a general agreement on a significant framework certification.
So while major industries inspire their employees to get certifications, it does not mean that you also require your penetration testing vendor to have it because they normally give more value to the individual skills of their staff instead of their industry certifications.
Tip #3: Look Into The Company’s Dependability And Trustworthiness
Since you will allow the third-party vendor to access your entire system, including all the sensitive files, customer information, insider facts, and other confidential details, you must always make sure that you can trust the service provider. You can do some online research about their reliability by looking at the list of their previous clients.
Online reviews are also helpful when verifying the trustworthiness of the vendor. You may also talk to other people in your industry to ask for recommendations regarding the penetration testing that they hired in the past. It would also help if you did a thorough interview with the possible vendor to gauge if you can depend on them.
Tip #4: Check Their Flexibility And Ability To Keep Up With Your Time
There are times when your company needs to conduct penetration testing during the off hours. If this happens, you need a vendor that is capable of adjusting their time to meet yours.
You must also ask the vendor how long should you notify them for a test. This information will come in handy if you constantly need immediate penetration testing services.
Looking for a penetration testing provider can be complicated if you have no idea what you want from them. By following this list, you can get the most reliable third-party penetration testingvendor to ensure the stability of your company’s security and pinpoint the weaknesses, so you can start fixing the problems at once.
