Continuous pentesting, also known as continuous penetration testing or continuous security testing, is a proactive approach to cybersecurity that involves the ongoing assessment of an organization's IT infrastructure, applications, and networks to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. Unlike traditional pentesting, which is conducted at discrete intervals, continuous pentesting provides real-time insights into security posture and allows for immediate action to mitigate risks.

At its core, continuous pentesting leverages automated tools and techniques to simulate real-world cyber attacks and identify potential entry points that malicious actors could exploit. By continuously scanning and probing systems for vulnerabilities, organizations can stay one step ahead of cyber threats and address security weaknesses before they are exploited.

How does Continuous Pentesting work?

As we mentioned, continuous pentesting solutions operate by leveraging automated tools and techniques to simulate real-world cyber attacks and identify potential entry points that malicious actors could exploit.

Here's how the process typically unfolds:

- Automated scanning: Continuous pentesting solutions employ automated scanning tools to continuously scan an organization's IT infrastructure, applications, and networks for vulnerabilities. These tools probe systems for known security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and other potential entry points that could be exploited by cybercriminals.

- Identification of vulnerabilities: As the automated scanning process progresses, continuous pentesting solutions identify and prioritize vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact on the organization's security posture. Vulnerabilities are categorized and assigned risk scores to facilitate efficient remediation efforts.

- Real-Time reporting: Continuous pentesting solutions generate real-time reports that provide organizations with detailed insights into their security posture and the vulnerabilities detected. These reports highlight critical issues that require immediate attention and provide actionable recommendations for remediation.

- Continuous monitoring and fixing: Continuous pentesting solutions continuously monitor the organization's IT environment for new vulnerabilities and security risks. As new threats emerge or changes are made to the infrastructure, the solution adapts and adjusts its scanning parameters to ensure comprehensive coverage. Organizations can then prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact on the business.

The importance of Continuous Pentesting within every business

The importance of continuous pentesting for CISOs cannot be overstated. Here are some key reasons why it should be a cornerstone of any organization's cybersecurity strategy:

1. Proactive risk management: Continuous pentesting enables CISOs to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cybercriminals. By staying ahead of emerging threats, organizations can reduce the likelihood of successful cyber attacks and minimize the impact of security breaches.

2. Real-time insights: Unlike traditional pentesting, which provides a snapshot of security posture at a specific point in time, continuous pentesting offers real-time insights into the ever-changing threat field. CISOs gain visibility into emerging risks and can take immediate action to strengthen defenses and mitigate potential threats.

3. Compliance and regulatory requirements: With the proliferation of data privacy regulations, organizations are under increasing pressure to maintain strong cybersecurity practices and protect sensitive customer information. Continuous pentesting helps organizations demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and enhances their overall cybersecurity posture.

4. Enhanced incident response: In the event of a security incident or breach, CISOs need to respond swiftly and effectively to minimize damage and restore operations. Continuous pentesting provides organizations with the agility and readiness to respond to incidents promptly, enabling them to contain threats and mitigate risks efficiently.

5. Continuous improvement: By integrating continuous pentesting into their cybersecurity program, organizations can establish a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. CISOs can use insights gleaned from pentesting results to refine security policies, update controls, and invest in targeted security measures to strengthen defenses over time.

About the Continuous Pentesting at Strike

At Strike, our Premium Pentesting services redefine the standards for proactive cybersecurity by implementing manual pentests that combine top talent and technology.

These tests are performed by Strikers, a global community of world-class ethical hackers that have international recognitions such as COBIT, OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), and OSWP (Offensive Security Wireless Professional), among other important certifications.

It’s important to highlight that these tests are run continuously so that security vulnerabilities can be identified and remediated in a timely manner, reducing the risk of exploitation by malicious actors and ensuring the ongoing protection of sensitive data and critical systems.

We also bring an Automated Testing cost-effective solution that was designed to offer an affordable option for companies of all sizes, ensuring that robust cybersecurity measures are accessible to everyone.

The process is 100% automatic: organizations add their domains, verify them, and the scanning starts automatically. These tests search for potential threats throughout the system, and within 24 hours, vulnerability reports will be available for download.

Automated tests are the best way to prepare a team for a manual pentest.

Through the Automated Testing solution, we facilitate the acquisition of SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and numerous other international certifications, enabling organizations to obtain their compliance oriented reports. Our automated scans and reporting capabilities are precisely aligned with the requirements of each company's auditor, making this swift acquisition possible.

‍