In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the security operations center (SOC) is often stuck in a titanic struggle against cybercriminals. While both parties are armed with state-of-the-art tools and technical know-how, cybercriminals usually have the edge with the element of surprise and a constantly evolving repertoire of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). This has been further fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence and open-source tools like ChatGPT, giving them an increased advantage. Consequently, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are progressively seeking ways to ensure that their systems and assets are resilient and can vigilantly respond to cyber threats.
The need for continuous security validation has never been more critical, particularly due to potential attack and breach risks. Thus, tools like penetration testing as a service have emerged as crucial assets for DevSecOps teams. They help identify and remediate vulnerabilities quickly, provide tactical support when required, and eliminate false positives. By streamlining remediation and incident management, such tools can help reduce the number of incidents and breaches and give back precious time to SOCs.
Continual security validation forms the bedrock of any cybersecurity program and is essential for complying with industry regulations and federal mandates. Furthermore, it's also important for organizations to have proof through independently certified penetration testing reports that their security measures are consistently adhered to and meet organization-set standards for governance, risk, and compliance.
Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) in conjunction with continuous validation acts as a force multiplier for fortifying defenses and being prepared for cyber incidents and audits. This shift away from traditional penetration testing methods offers an advantageous alternative to outdated methods which are heavily reliant on manual testing despite modern technology, like AI and automation, being available.
Traditional penetration testing methods have had their shortcomings, often leaving DevOps teams blindsided. Integrating DevOps remediation during the penetration testing process is prudent – an opportunity often missed in the legacy systems resulting in delays, increased costs, and exposes security risks.
The emergence of PTaaS platforms has given security leaders a powerful new method to maximize their pen testing capabilities. PTaaS leverages human expertise, AI, and automation to rapidly execute penetration tests without generating false positives. It provides on-demand access to experienced, certified testers without the need for in-house talent. PTaaS includes DevOps remediation within its lifecycle and allows for continuous vulnerability management beyond the actual test.
CISOs can expect vast improvements in security outcomes with a well-selected PTaaS provider. Not only will security leaders benefit from comprehensive and unbiased testing conducted by certified experts, but they will also leverage the use of an advanced cloud pentesting platform to manage each PTaaS engagement. By incorporating PTaaS into its overall security strategy, organizations can significantly enhance their defenses against cyber threats and fortify their cyber resilience in the long term.
While the PTaaS sector has exploded with an influx of new and existing providers, it is crucial for organizations to opt for experienced third-party security service providers who offer innovative solutions with in-house experts at a reasonable cost.
At Darksteel Technologies, we are an Orlando-based business that can handle all aspects of your IT security. Providing compliance, training, malware protection, cloud security, devsecops, vulnerability management, penetration testing, architecture design and any other information security requirement your business needs. We focus on your cybersecurity so you don't have to.