What to Look for in a CREST Accredited Penetration Testing Provider 

Penetration testing is a proactive method used to identify and address vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems, network, and applications before they can be exploited by malicious actors. It requires CREST-certified pentesting experts and a complete understanding of the different pentesting methodologies – whether automated, human-driven, or sourced from third-party providers. For enterprises operating under stringent data privacy and security regulations like DORA, SOC 2, NIS2, PCI DSS, choosing a qualified and credible security provider is essential.

A CREST accreditation offers a globally recognized benchmark for evaluating the skills and competency of cyber security providers, including penetration testing services. In today’s complex threat landscape, CREST certification signifies the gold standard of expertise and the highest level of reassurance to security practitioners seeking knowledgeable, skilled, and certified providers.

What is CREST Accredited Provider and Why is it Important?

Effective penetration testing strengthens security by identifying and mitigating risks. However, success hinges on selecting a provider with proven capabilities. A thorough and methodical approach to testing ensures vulnerabilities are properly identified, justifying an enterprise’s security investment. CREST accreditation signals a provider’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in security testing.

CREST, short for Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers, is a globally recognized accreditation body in the cyber security industry. It sets and enforces rigorous standards for service providers, ensuring they adhere to industry best practices, employ qualified pentesting experts, and maintain integrity and ethics. Partnering with a CREST-certified provider gives enterprises confidence that the security testing is in the hands of experts with validated skills.

Benefits of Choosing a CREST Certified Provider for Pen Testing

Access to Industry Expertise

CREST-accredited providers undergo extensive assessments that measure technical proficiency, ethical standards, and compliance with industry requirements. These providers also have access to continuous training and updated threat intelligence, ensuring that their expertise remains current with the evolving threat landscape.

Comprehensive Coverage

A CREST certification guarantees that the provider can conduct thorough and effective penetration tests across an enterprise’s IT infrastructure – covering networks, endpoints, applications, and cloud resources. This comprehensive approach provides enterprises with a clearer understanding of their attack surface, even in large-scale and complex environments.

Risk Reduction

Engaging a CREST-accredited provider for regular or continuous penetration testing helps identify weaknesses before they can be exploited, offering a proactive risk management strategy. This gives enterprises a significant advantage in staying ahead of potential attackers.

Reputation and Compliance

Many enterprises recognize the value of partnering with CREST-accredited providers. In some industries or contracts, working with a certified provider is a requirement. CREST certification is usually the gold standard requirement because it helps companies meet security standards necessary for regulatory compliance in sectors governed by rules like NIST or PCI DSS.

Which Sectors Benefit the Most?

Sectors like finance, healthcare, technology, and retail, which handle sensitive data, benefit significantly from working with a CREST-certified provider. Surprisingly, most providers are not CREST accredited nor are their pentesters. Providers who earn this accreditation have demonstrated capabilities in maintaining stringent security protocols that are favorably looked upon by regulators. Additionally, sectors like energy, utilities, and e-commerce, where operational continuity is critical, can rely on CREST-accredited services to ensure a robust security posture.

How CREST Penetration Testing Providers Obtain Accreditation

Achieving CREST accreditation involves a rigorous process that examines the provider’s experience, practices, and qualifications.

1. Eligibility: Providers must demonstrate compliance with recognized security and quality standards, such as ISO 27001. They are required to have at least two years of experience in penetration testing and must adhere to CREST’s ethical standards.
2. Standardized Practices: Providers must follow CREST-approved methodologies for penetration testing, which includes stages like planning, exploitation, and reporting.
3. Team Expertise: Pen testers must pass CREST exams and demonstrate a high level of proficiency. CREST IDs are issued to individuals who meet the required standards.
4. Independent Audits: Providers undergo an independent audit of their tools, processes, and personnel to ensure they meet CREST’s stringent criteria.

What to Look for in a CREST-Certified Penetration Testing Provider

While CREST accreditation is an important factor, there are other key considerations to look for in a penetration testing provider that go beyond the certification itself. While CREST accreditation ensures a baseline of technical competence and adherence to industry standards, enterprises should evaluate additional qualities to find the right fit for their specific security needs.

Proven Track Record

Look for a provider with a solid history of successful projects and positive client feedback. A strong reputation is often a reliable indicator of the provider’s ability to deliver quality services. Check for case studies, reviews, or client testimonials that showcase their expertise and effectiveness in conducting penetration tests across various industries.

Industry-Specific Experience

Different industries have unique security challenges and regulatory requirements. A CREST-certified provider with experience in your specific sector will be better equipped to understand and address your particular risks. For example, the healthcare and financial sectors have stringent compliance standards, while industries like e-commerce or energy require a focus on operational continuity. Ensure the provider has relevant expertise in your field.

Comprehensive Reporting

Penetration testing is only as useful as the insights it provides. The provider should offer detailed, actionable reports that not only highlight vulnerabilities, but outline clear recommendations for remediation. Look for a provider that delivers thorough reports, including the location, severity, and potential impact of each vulnerability evidenced by proof of concepts (POCs), as well as prioritized steps for addressing them.

Continuous Support and Collaboration

Security testing doesn’t stop with the delivery of the report. A good provider will offer ongoing support to help your team through the remediation process. Look for a provider that fosters a collaborative relationship, answering questions and providing guidance to ensure vulnerabilities are effectively resolved. This includes retesting after fixes are implemented to validate the effectiveness of security measures taken.

Flexibility in Testing Approach

Every enterprise has a unique IT infrastructure, risks, and business goals. The best CREST-certified providers offer flexibility in their testing methodologies, tailoring their approach to meet your specific needs. Whether your enterprise requires testing for web applications, internal networks, or cloud environments, ensure the provider can adapt their methods to give you comprehensive coverage to meet both your security and business requirements.

By taking these factors into account, enterprises can find a CREST-certified penetration testing provider that not only meets the technical standards required by CREST but also provides the right level of expertise, reporting, and customer support to strengthen your enterprise’s overall security posture.

Fortify Your Defenses with BreachLock’s CREST-Accredited Penetration Testing

BreachLock is a global leader in CREST-accredited penetration testing and offensive security services. BreachLock’s in-house experts are CREST-certified, and all have been rigorously vetted for their proficiency in all areas of pentesting. By combining automated and human-driven techniques, BreachLock provides security testing that offers real-time, in-depth insights into the most exploitable vulnerabilities. This approach ensures faster, evidence-based testing, comprehensive coverage, and lower total cost of ownership (TOC).

Beyond CREST, BreachLock’s Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) model and standardized framework adheres to key standards like OWASP and NIST, helping enterprises meet compliance requirements for SOC 2, NIS2 Directive, GDPR, DORA, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. With flexible offensive security solutions for PTaaS, Attack Surface Management, continuous pentesting, and red teaming, enterprises can proactively mitigate emerging threats in today’s threat landscape.

Discuss your specific security needs with our experts. Schedule a discovery call with BreachLock today!

About BreachLock

BreachLock is a global leader in Continuous Attack Surface Discovery and Penetration Testing. Continuously discover, prioritize, and mitigate exposures with evidence-backed Attack Surface Management, Penetration Testing, and Red Teaming.

Elevate your defense strategy with an attacker’s view that goes beyond common vulnerabilities and exposures. Each risk we uncover is backed by validated evidence. We test your entire attack surface and help you mitigate your next cyber breach before it occurs.

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