Why PCI DSS should incorporate Penetration Test?

Benefits of penetration testing

• Protects the image of the company and customer loyalty- it helps the organization to avoid data incidents that might destroy the reputation of the company.

• It meets monitoring necessities and avoids penalties- it helps the company in addressing the overall auditing facets of procedures and exactly report testing necessities recognized in PCI DSS commands. The report generated by penetration testing can support the company in avoiding substantial penalties.

• Helps in detecting and arranging security threats- it estimates the ability of the company to defend its users, network, application and all external and internal attempts of attacks. The result of the test confirms the threat rooted by particular security vulnerability allowing IT experts to organize remediation efforts.

• It provides a deep and clear vulnerability- it offers complete information on vulnerable security threats. This helps the company to identify which threats are serious, which are not as much as worthy and which are wrong positive. The organization can clearly organize remediation, carry out the necessary security patches and allocate security resources ably to ensure that they are easily reached wherever and whenever they are mostly required.

Vulnerability scanning is not enough

Vulnerability scanning is an automated test that identifies and reports both internal and external vulnerability. Internal vulnerability scanning is executed to search for vulnerability on internal hosts that could be exploited in a pivot attack within your network. For external vulnerability scan, it is the scanning that is done outside of your network in order to recognize known weaknesses in network structure. Vulnerability scan is not enough. PCI DSS also requires both external and internal penetration testing.

There are a lot of penetration testing companies that can aid organisations with identify weaknesses within their IT infrastructure. In conclusion, any company that would like to improve information security and improve resistance to cyber attacks, should consider having a penetration test performed.

Sources: https://www.aptive.co.uk/cybersecurity/what-is-pentesting/

(penetration testing definition)

Page last checked and updated: 3rd Feburary 2024

Cyberattacks can irreparably damage your organization; thus, the need to make security top priority. Your organization’s data is one of the most valuable assets, yet often vulnerable. Therefore, it is essential you use the right system to deter a security breach from happening.

Besides, deterrence will help you downplay emerging damages and minimize the threats. Data breaches always happen when they are least expected. Hence, staying safe is always good than feeling sorry.

What is the value of Cyber Security?

Most organization fear investing in cyber security. This because, implementing cybersecurity is not an easy task. Moreover, the technological advancement and sophistication of attacks makes it almost impossible to predict what to invest. In 2018, cyber security expenditure is expected to rise to $100 million, an indicator that companies are preparing themselves by allocating funds and training their staffs towards mitigating such attacks

While the value of cyber security may not only be quantified in monetary values alone, if there is any data breach, company’s reputations are lost, and subsequently, the aftermath may lead to clients losing trust in the organization.

Modern Security Threats

By 2021, cyber-attacks are expected to be on the rise. Hence, organizations need to refine their deterrence and mitigation skills. Discussed herein are some substantial threats that will change the landscape of cyber security.

1. Internet of Things

IoT has proved to provide incredible benefits to our daily lives, but at the same time, it poses some threats to security. With the electronic gadgets being connected to each other and providing streaming data, a new lot of cyber threats emerge. Since the concept is still new, there is no attention encryption of sensitive data, and its access restriction. Although hackers have not turned their attention entirely to exploit vulnerabilities in IoT, organizations should take advantage of the situation to develop preventive measures that can be used to deter data breaches.

2. Spear Phishing

Spear Phishing has been around for ages; however, it does not mean it is any less way of a threat. It is one of the dangerous attempts to access your personal information. It tricks you to providing your data willingly. It may results from receiving an email from someone you are familiar with and give out your information, and eventually, it leads to information loss.

3. Ransomware

For quite some time, Ransomware debate has hit the headlines for a while. It is indeed one of the modern substantial cyber threats for cybersecurity. What makes it trendier is its ability to spread quickly. In most cases, hackers target PCs or systems on a network and allow the attack to spread through to other sections of the organization through the shared network. Once the attackers overtake the machines, they encrypt the data and create a denial of service and demand for payment. Mostly, the demand to payment through cryptocurrency.

Once attackers take your systems, they encrypt the files and hold the decryption keys. However, it is worthy to note that even if you settle the payment they are demanding for, there is no surety you will get the decryption keys. Moreover, their attacking tactics are becoming more sophisticated as days go by.

Tips for cybersecurity

With the digital error, most devices connected to the internet are not free from attacks. Thus, there is need to take precautions while surfing the internet. Highlighted below are some of the ways you can keep yourself safe.

1. Passwords: Most employees use their year of birth and children’s name as passwords. Passwords presents the first line of attack for attackers. They can use spoofing devices to get your password. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, always ensure you use mixed case characters and they should not be less than six. Besides, as an organization, you should educate the employees on the need to deploy two-factor authentication.

2. Data Backup: Periodical backup of data is crucial to your company. Since, you are not certain when a cyber-attack will strike. Data backup should be carried at offsite places. Even so, you should always ensure that your back up data is kept in a safe and secure place.

3. Upgrade System software: Network technologies such as antiviruses, firewalls, and antimalware can help block malwares and Trojans that can attack your system. Thus, it is essential always to use the latest versions of the software.

4. Limit privileges: You should not give full access privileges to your employees. Employee accounts should only be granted rights that allow them to carry on with their duties.

5. Staff awareness: Employees should have knowledge that will enable them to deal with cyber threats.

6. Always monitor and test your network: As a rule of thumb, you should continuously monitor your network by performing penetration testing to detect vulnerabilities.

– Go to Settings > Notifications.

– Select an app and turn off the “Show on Lock Screen” setting. Or turn off previews for all apps by selecting “Show Previews” and tapping “When Unlocked” or “Never.”

On Android:

– Go to Settings > Lock screen and security > Notifications.

– Toggle “Hide content” to on.

Set text previews so you only see the name of the person texting you or disable previews all together.

On iOS:

– Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages.

– Under Alerts, toggle “Show on Lock Screen” to off. Or, if you never want text previews to pop up, tap “Show Previews” under Options and select “Never.”

On Android:

– Go to Messaging > Settings > Preview Messages.

– Then either turn off the previews or disable notifications.

3. Lock your apps– App lockers give an additional level of security for your apps and work simply like the lock you set on your phone. On the off chance that another person utilizes your phone or if your gadget is stolen, the information in your apps remains locked behind a password.
4. Hide your pictures– Protect yourself from a situation where somebody with your phone swipes past a personal photograph. Utilize a photograph vault app to store photographs that are for your eyes just behind a password and keep personal pictures private. You can likewise set up different special albums if you wish to share it with others.
5. Use private profiles and private number– In case you’re dating or purchasing and offering things on the web, don’t give out your private phone number to somebody you just met. A burner phone app makes new phone numbers at whatever point you require them and personal details from the public world. You can send and get texts, calls and photographs from your main phone or gadget and keep your own phone number private. Make sure your social media profiles are in the private mode and only your friends/followers can view what you post online. This will eliminate the threat of identity theft and other threats that can arrive from exploitation of your information online.
6. Keep your browsing secret– If you utilize free WiFi hotspots out in the open spaces, utilize a VPN to hide your own data from an unsecured open system. Ensure it’s a legitimate VPN service that you pay for and trust to keep up your security.