Computers have changed the business landscape forever. There aren’t too many companies that don’t completely rely on computers for at least one aspect of their business, if not completely rely on them for everything. While the technology is quite useful, it can also be a double-edged sword. Computer vulnerabilities can allow unauthorized persons to gain access to sensitive data ranging from proprietary data to customer credit card information. All companies using modern technology should use penetration testing.

What are penetration tests?

Penetration testing is a method in which a contracted security team checks the integrity of the network. They are trained to use the same methods that hackers would use to gain unauthorized access to the system. The experts will then tell the business where they are weakest and what they need to do to prevent someone from breaking into the network and gaining access to sensitive data.

Why do companies need to perform penetration tests?

The amount of damage that can be done to a business will depend on the skills of the hackers targeting the business. Even hackers with very little skill can cause major inconvenience. Low-skilled people can deface or remove a company’s website if it is not properly protected. They can gain access to a network and inject Trojan horses, viruses or worms that can slow down or completely shut down the network. Every time a corporate site or computer network goes down, it means lost employee productivity, potential lost customer sales, or lost customers. In other words, it can cost a lot of money if someone exploits any security holes.

A skilled hacker can cause significant problems once the input is obtained. There are people who go to a company to steal customer data. This can lead to everything from fraudulent credit card purchases on customer accounts to identity theft. If this were to happen, the reputation of the target company may be irrevocably damaged. Consumers and customers would think twice before doing business with that company because they didn’t do enough to protect their important information.

Another reason a company should consider penetration testing is if they have a large customer list, a lot of research and development, or proprietary data or trade secrets that they wouldn’t want to put in the hands of their rivals. While not talked about very often, some hackers are employed by both foreign and domestic corporations to gain access to this type of data for corporate espionage.

Penetration testing should not be seen as an expense. It should be seen as an investment and a cost of doing business. Because if security is breached, the expense could far exceed that of having a penetration test performed in the first place.