Why CISOs Are Shifting to Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS)

In a new report by The Hack Post, PTaaS offers a new way to improve security testing with integrated DevSecOps.

CISOs have an opportunity to centralize pentesting with a proactive mechanism that’s proactive, efficient, and simple approach to test defenses and stop preventable breaches before it’s too late with a proven, trusted penetration testing service provider – also known as PTaaS.

Read the original article here: Why CISOs Are Shifting to Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS)

As digital transformation progresses, effective security testing becomes increasingly critical. Regular, comprehensive penetration testing is essential to identify vulnerabilities and prevent breaches due to expanding attack surfaces and sophisticated cyber threats.

Many security leaders struggle to secure budgets and resources for testing while facing challenges with expensive, unscalable, and inefficient legacy providers. This is where Pentesting as a Service (PTaaS) comes in as a modern approach to security testing that enables DevSecOps teams to identify vulnerabilities quickly and prevent security breaches before they happen.

Read on to understand the reasons behind the shift that security leaders are taking with PTaaS and moving away from legacy pentesting providers. Then, learn the top benefits of this innovative solution, making it an attractive option for modern security testing.

The Need for Proactive Penetration Testing

As digital dependence increases, so does the risk of cyberattacks. Cybercriminals constantly search for weaknesses to exploit, putting businesses under unrelenting pressure. Insufficient testing of internal and external systems can leave organizations exposed to breaches with potentially disastrous consequences.

Proactive penetration testing is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Traditional penetration testing vendors may take weeks or even months to complete a single test, resulting in missed opportunities to address security risks. Furthermore, automated tools may not be sufficient for integrating security testing into the CI/CD pipeline, as they may fail to detect insecure code for unknown vulnerabilities.

Inadequate Testing across Internal and External Systems

The security of both internal and external systems is rarely absolute for most organizations. Continuous security validation and vulnerability management are essential for various applications, including mobile, API, and web-facing apps. Even novice cybercriminals can easily access commercial tools and open-source intelligence to engage in cybercrime and generate profits.

Known vulnerabilities exposed to the internet and within an organization’s infrastructure pose significant risks to security and DevOps teams. A single phishing attack can result in a security breach if the attacker gains access to internal systems using socially engineered credentials.

To thoroughly scan, discover, and identify all potential vulnerabilities, attack paths, and vectors, penetration testing must be conducted across full stack environments, covering both external and internal systems.

The Problem with Legacy Pen Testing

Legacy penetration testing providers have failed to adopt next generation technology, like artificial intelligence and automation. Despite the advantages of tapping into external penetration testing for unbiased results, consultant-based testing is expensive and difficult to scale.

Smaller companies and startups that kick off their security strategies with consultant-based penetration testers experience a disadvantage. Moreover, as SMBs grow, they may unknowingly increase their attack surface exposures due to a lack of visibility. Businesses may retain inefficient or biased pentesting vendors thinking their pentest reports are comprehensive and accurate.

For enterprise businesses, consultant-based testing falls short for enterprise businesses as well. The central penetration testing team will interface with cross-functional stakeholders across the organization, including product owners, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), CISOs, and developers. When the central team responsible for pentesting has a backlog, security risks increase, and revenue-generating products are delayed.

Traditional penetration testing with a consultant can take weeks or months to complete. Meanwhile, automated testing provides only a limited view into security posture. Automated testing can only identify known vulnerabilities and may produce many false positives, making it challenging for DevOps teams to prioritize remediation. On their own, these traditional pentesting methods do not provide a complete picture of an organization’s security posture.

With Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS), security leaders can overcome the limitations of traditional penetration testing and move beyond the limitations of consultants and automated tools.

The Way Forward: Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS)

PTaaS offers CISOs an innovative approach to building a cyber-resilient security infrastructure without introducing unnecessary risks. It combines human-led engagements, advanced automated vulnerability scanning, and SaaS-based customer portal controls. The cloud platform allows security leaders to manage penetration testing directly through the customer portal for on-demand third-party testing.

PTaaS delivers several key advantages that CISOs can use to enhance cyber resilience and protect their organization’s perimeter and attack surfaces from advanced persistent threats and evolving risks.

A modern PTaaS solution offers the following advantages:

• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): By integrating security features that can be removed or minimized elsewhere, businesses can decrease their TCO, resulting in better ROI and cost savings.
• Faster Turnaround Time: Companies can access integrated remediation guidance to meet pentesting requirements more quickly, accelerate security outcomes, and save time for in-house teams.
• Trustworthy Reporting: Certified pen testers follow industry-standard methodologies, tools, and best practices to provide consistent and accurate pentest reports that meet quality standards.
• Compliance and Security Validation: Certified reports and artifacts offer validation of security and compliance requirements for third-party pentesting and vulnerability scanning.
• Improved Visibility: Obtain a comprehensive view of attack surface exposures, critical vulnerabilities, and attack paths from the perspective of potential adversaries, enhancing visibility.
• Scalable On-demand Service: Expert-led pentesting can be conducted without hiring additional resources, as the service scales based on demand, effectively eliminating the penetration testing backlog.
• Agile Workflow Support: API ticketing integrations enable efficient triaging of newly discovered vulnerabilities, supporting agile DevSecOps workflows that encourage rapid remediation.
• Ongoing Benefits after Pentesting: Clients can access continuous security monitoring, scanning, and retesting benefits throughout their PTaaS subscription via a secure client portal.

Start Planning for Pen Testing as a Service Today

Are your current security platforms and tools meeting all your needs? How many vendors are you working with, and do they comply with your GRC program? Are there any gaps in your existing solutions?

In The CISO’s Guide to Penetration Testing as a Service, learn why global CISOs are transitioning from traditional penetration testing to PTaaS, simultaneously improving security outcomes and ROI. Discover how a SaaS-based client portal, cloud platform, and certified ethical hackers from a reputable service provider enable CISOs to proactively prevent breaches and quickly address security gaps with PTaaS. Download the CISO’s Guide to PTaaS today.

Modern CISOs are accelerating their penetration testing programs with BreachLock, a leading provider of PTaaS. BreachLock’s certified experts are prepared to help you join the PTaaS movement and secure your organization now and in the future. With over 1,000 active clients across IT, software, healthcare, and financial services, you can rely on BreachLock for full-stack penetration testing services and security validation within your budget and timeline. Schedule a discovery call with one of our pentesting experts and see how PTaaS can work for you.