Why penetration testing and vulnerability assessment are important

Vulnerability assessment is a process that is executed to detect, identify and classify security loopholes in computers, websites, networks, information technology systems and also in communication systems. A minor loophole in your network can put your entire system at risk and leak all of your information. The loopholes allow third parties and others to access and illicitly steal and exploit the database and information of your entire network system. The vulnerability is an inactive process and uses software tools for its analysis.

However, penetration testing is an active process and requires ethical hackers with a deep understanding of networking and hacking. An important difference between script kiddies and ethical hackers is that script kiddies misuse the information and database for personal gain while ethical hackers run the tests to find loopholes and cover them up. In penetration tests, a security team is hired. Members of this security team are highly trained, experienced and can be trusted. Many of them are certified ethical hackers. They ensure network integrity and are trained to use methods similar to those used by hackers to gain unlicensed access to the system. Professional experts then inform the company of its weakness and what can be done to prevent the intrusion and publication of the data. Various ethical hacking institutes recruit experienced and trained testers to prevent your network from being breached.

Hiring a certified ethical hacker can protect and defend your network and computer from external attacks. The extent of the damage done to your business and network systems depends entirely on the hackers. If the vulnerability is significant, hackers can cause significant damage to the site. Gaining access to the secret internal database can shut down the website and literally take on the company. To gain access to the network, hackers inject Trojan viruses, horses, or worms. Consequently, it slows down your network or may even shut down your website. It is a potential loss for business owners, employees, clients and customers.

Doing a penetration test is essential in all aspects. It is an investment and not an expense. Hackers look for loopholes in networks to steal a company’s database. Fraud in the purchase of credit cards and then their billing in the customers’ account is a common issue. Therefore, penetration testing is a must as it prevents your network from being breached. The report publishes the vulnerabilities found during the tests. If a vulnerability scanner is used, it can successfully recognize vulnerabilities in Linux and Windows.