Penetration testing is one of the most popular ways of defending against security attacks. It’s an advanced form of vulnerability assessment that uses many methods to identify weaknesses. Penetration testing is commonly used by companies, governments, and enterprises to make sure their systems are secure and confidential information is protected. Penetration testing companies offer services such as finding vulnerabilities in a system’s hardware or software and providing support for users who need help with fixing the problems they’ve found.
How to find these companies
1. Ask for a recommendation
If you’re going to get a report, you should also ask the company how many other companies they’ve tested. In addition to discovering how many companies they’ve worked with, you may also gain insight into their approach and the risks they are prepared to take when performing the test. Most experienced companies understand that users are more likely to overlook the small issues found in a test report if an organization is more than one or two levels above its own level of security. The main reason for this is that all organizations are limited by their resources and time.
4. Use professional tactics
Many pen testing companies still recommend using black hat techniques (malicious hacking tools) to find problems. The tests will look similar to those that attackers use, and the chances of discovering the issues they find are high. However, some small penetration testing companies do not have access to these tools due to the nature of their service contract. It is important that you get all the information you can about this before you sign your contract. It is always a good idea to check if a company has references from other organizations as well as independent reviews online.
5. Ask for an estimate in advance
A company with experience will be able to provide you with an accurate estimate for its services in advance, so you can decide whether or not it’s worth hiring them before they get started. The easiest way to get a good estimate is to ask for quotes or estimates from different companies, and then compare them before you hire penetration testing companies. You can also ask them if they are willing to provide the services that you need or if they offer customization.
6. Look for a company with experience in your field
You should never hire a penetration testing company that focuses its services on one specific type of industry, such as finance. This is because their knowledge of a particular industry’s technology and security standards may be lacking when working in other industries, which could result in inaccurate reports or recommendations later on. To be sure that the company you hire is knowledgeable in your field, ask for case studies and references from other companies or organizations in your industry.
7. Do a phone screen’ to determine the quality
Ask potential candidates to do a remote phone screening with you to see how they communicate and determine if they have the skills and knowledge required for making an accurate test report. Make sure that you take notes during this process so you can compare them later with the results of their actual test report. If all their recommendations are not reasonable, then this may be a sign that they do not have enough experience or knowledge about penetration testing.
