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In the recent past, it is rather challenging to separate the technicalities of protecting a business from cyber-crimes. There are two concepts frequently used interchangeably: penetration testing and security audit. There is a significant difference between the two even though they are both very important in the IT security world. In this article, I will try to explain what penetration is testing vs security audit and what is the difference between them and why such distinctions are crucial for your business. We will also see how Prancer can assist you in dealing with these elaborate processes utilizing its solutions such as automated penetration testing.
Security assessment, also known as a “pen test”, is an attack on your system to determine which weak links and loopholes can be taken advantage of by hackers. The objective is not to wait until the bad guys try picking you apart and showing you all your security vulnerabilities. A penetration test is a practical approach whereby the Pen testers, or ethical hackers, try to break through the organization’s security system as hackers would do.
The use of penetration testing is important since it provides a realistic view of an organization’s security stance. Not only does it show you where your protective barriers are most robust, but also where they could easily be broken down. Some of the benefits of penetration testing include; Firstly, through the routine use of penetration testing, companies can be on the lookout for new threats and guarantee that their systems are secure.
A security audit is the process of reviewing an organization’s information security management system to evaluate its effectiveness in protecting its IT resources and information assets.
A security audit is a formal examination of an organization’s security fabric that involves an assessment of the implemented policies, processes and controls. Unlike penetration testing which involves identifying and taking advantage of the existing holes in your system, a security audit evaluates whether you meet the standard measures as required. This includes documentation review, interviews with personnel and the ability of security controls to perform their tasks.
Security audits are critical as they help the organization determine its compliance levels with the set regulations and point out the weaknesses in the security plan. They give a general idea of the security situation of your organization while giving guidelines on the way forward.
Even though penetration testing, and security audits may seem to be similar at initial sight, these are two different approaches. Penetration testing vs security audit might be compared to the check of the defensive capacity of the fortress (penetration testing) and the overall analysis of the fortress’s security system (security audit).
Penetration testing is strategic, and target oriented in the sense that it seeks to discover certain gaps. It is the same as employing an intruder to burglar a fort to establish vulnerable areas. On the other hand, a security audit is more planned to evaluate if the security plans, policies, and measures of the above mentioned ‘fortress’ are adequate to guard it against threats. Both are important, but both are focused on different aspects of security.
Penetration testing and security audit must be used separately but often it is a mistake to consider one as a sufficient security measure. Whereas penetration testing allows you to detect and resolve weaknesses, a security audit will guarantee that all other aspects of your security are well managed. Altogether they give a holistic method of protecting your organization.
For instance, while your penetration tests may be successful in proving that your systems are secure, a security audit may present scenarios such as your incident response plan is outdated, or your staff is not well trained on security. On the other hand, security audits may fail to identify certain risks that may be evident when conducting a penetration test.
Prancer is one of the market’s leading automated pen testing platforms that provides clear and efficient solutions for pen testing while ensuring high accuracy. Therefore, through a platform called Prancer, businesses can perform penetration tests more often and with higher accuracy and this will help to counteract the threats of cyber criminals.
Prancer’s automated penetration testing tools mimic actual attacks on your systems, to ascertain the weaknesses that exist. These tools are very simple and user-friendly that even organizations with little or no cyber security knowledge can use. By automating the penetration testing process, Prancer ensures that businesses are protected through efficient use of resources while reducing the amount of time taken to perform the process.
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Automated penetration testing is the new buzz in town, as far as the protection of business is concerned. Historically penetration testing was a slow and expensive process which needed specific tools and expertise. To this effect, while traditional penetration testing takes a lot of time and is expensive, automated penetration testing provides an efficient means for businesses to undertake penetration testing at a cheaper price.
To the best of Prancer’s automated penetration testing solutions, this revolution is well underway. These tools leverage advanced algorithms and machine learning to determine vulnerabilities and generate reports on their resolution. This makes it possible for businesses to monitor their systems and deal with real-time threats.
Security audits have the important function to check the compliance with the requirements of the industry rules and norms. To most entities, compliance is more than just a penalty or fined, but it is about customer and partner relations. A security audit offers documentation proof that will help to show that your organization meets the requirements of the GDPR, HIPAA, or the PCI DSS.
In other words, Prancer’s security solutions enable organizations to manage compliance without much hassle. Building a security audit into your broad security plan can help you protect your organization and keep up with the ever-changing compliance measures.
It is however important to note that penetration testing, and security audits are two different things, but they are also related. Combined, they offer a complete security picture in your organization. Penetration testing tells you what must be secured, while security audits guarantee that you cover all necessary aspects.
When conducted in parallel with the penetration testing, the security audits will form a strong network that will effectively protect business against cyber threats. It is for this reason that Prancer’s solutions enable these processes to be integrated into your security solution easily, thereby guaranteeing you both the capabilities of the tactical layer and the planning of the strategic layer.
In some cases, it may be difficult to decide whether penetration testing should take precedence over a security audit. This is because the best approach depends on the organizational needs, the level of risk that the organization can be willing to undertake, and the country’s regulatory framework. To some companies, penetration testing could be a priority while to others, they might require a security audit to answer certain compliance needs.
Prancer provides customized recommendations so that you can identify the best strategy. If you require a penetration test or a security audit or both for your organization, Prancer’s tools and services will help you through and keep your organization safe and legal.
Because the threats are constantly growing online, it is necessary that the approaches we use to address them are also constantly improving. We have made it our core business to remain ahead in the market by providing solutions that can easily fit into the ever-evolving market. When imagining the future of Prancer, the company has concentrated on automation and integration; moreover, the goal is to bring powerful security tools to any organization, regardless of its size.
Thus, accepting automated penetration testing and total security checks, companies can learn about threats, which are still a mystery to hackers. With Prancer, you get scalable solutions that will be able to fit into the company’s security needs as the company grows or new threats are identified.
Although this fight between penetration testing vs security audit seems to have a clear and well-defined winner, it must be noted that both are equally important. While penetration testing offers the detailed, tactical approach to remediation that allows you to systematically address issues, security audits offer the bird’s eye view to guarantee your security is right. Through integrating the two approaches, enterprises can build an effective security plan that will help to prevent threats which are familiar and those that are still developing.
