In the world of cyber security, there are two types of audits that companies can do – a security audit and penetration testing. These terms might sound familiar but you may not be sure what they mean or how to choose between them. In this blog post, we will discuss the key differences between these two services, as well as the pros and cons of each one. We’ll also give you some pointers on how to decide which type is right for your company!
What Is Security Auditing?
A security audit is a process that examines the security of an organization’s systems and networks. The goal of a security audit is to identify vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. Security audits can be conducted internally or by outside experts.
Some of the best tools for security auditing include:
- Nessus – a vulnerability scanner that enables you to get an assessment of the security posture for many devices, including mobile and cloud. It also provides information on misconfigurations or vulnerabilities in operating systems, services, and applications.
- IBM App Scan – this tool tests Web apps for OWASP top risks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS), insecure direct object references, and SQL injection among others. This tool works with both native mobile apps and hybrid/web apps running on pre-production infrastructures like desktop emulators, simulators, or actual hardware. The real benefit here is being able to test your enterprise app against attacks of this nature before it hits production!
Security auditing can be done internally by employees within your company who have knowledge of your business processes and security needs. It can also be done externally by hiring a third-party consulting firm that specializes in this type of work.
What Is Pentesting?
Pentesting, also known as penetration testing, is the practice of attacking computer systems in order to find security weaknesses. Pentesters use a variety of methods, including exploit codes, to attempt to break into systems. Pentesters simulate real-world attacks to determine how well your system would hold up against them.
It is performed against mission-critical systems that are used daily instead of just being tested periodically or whenever deemed necessary. With pen testing, you’re looking specifically for weak points that could lead to major compromises if left unresolved. This might include finding login credentials stored within source code, default passwords or accounts left active after an employee leaves the company, among other things – anything that would make it easier for cybercriminals to take advantage of them! Some examples of tools frequently used in pen-testing include:
- Nmap – a network exploration and security auditing tool that can be used to identify hosts and services on a network, as well as vulnerabilities.
- Astra Pentest – an application security testing solution that lets developers and pen-testers find vulnerabilities in web apps, iOS, Android, networks, etc.
- Metasploit – a tool for developing exploit code. It provides the user with an interface where they can enter information about their target environment (such as the operating system) to see if there are any exploits that can be used.
Key Differences Between Security Auditing And Pentesting?
The key difference between security auditing and pen-testing is that audits are preventive while pentests are reactive. Audits are designed to find vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by hackers. Pentests are designed to test the security of your systems after you have implemented any necessary changes identified in security audits.
Security Auditing Pros and Cons
Pros:-
Internal audits can be conducted on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly) based on company needs; an audit is usually cheaper than hiring outside pentesters; there is no risk involved for customers if their personal information or other sensitive data was compromised during testing as it’s all simulated! Security auditing provides organizations with metrics that indicate how well they’re protecting critical assets like customer credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc., which contributes to overall organizational awareness about cyber threats.
Cons:-
Some companies may not feel comfortable opening themselves up to outside security auditors; pentesting is not effective if an organization does not have a good understanding of where its vulnerabilities lie.
Pentesting Pros and Cons
Pros:-
Pentesters use real-world attacks in order to identify areas of vulnerability which makes it more accurate than simulated audits; pentests can be completed much faster than full-scale internal or external audits and provide immediate feedback on the current state of your network/systems’ security post-implementation changes. With penetration testing, you get direct access to an application’s code (if necessary) with no limits placed upon what testers can do or see – this allows them to find potential flaws that may go undetected by human eyes due to lack of time, resources, etc.; pentesting may be completed after a security audit in order to test for vulnerabilities that an organization missed during the initial testing.
Cons:-
Pentesters use real-world attacks which means they have a higher chance of actually compromising your system(s); pentests can get expensive (though usually not as much as hiring outside expertise) due to the amount of time it takes; if testers are able to break into one or more systems, there is also risk involved for customers whose personal information was compromised during the tests even though it’s simulated! When you hire third parties like pen testers, there is always some degree of uncertainty about their true intentions and level of ability. You never really know whether these individuals will report vulnerabilities responsibly or sell them to the highest bidder.
How to Choose Between Security Audits And Pentests?
When it comes time to choose between security auditing and pen-testing, it’s important to consider your organization’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. If you’re looking for a preventive measure that will help identify potential weak spots before they can be exploited by hackers, then security audits are the way to go. However, if you’re after more immediate feedback on the current state of your systems’ security or want to test how well your recent changes have held up against real-world attacks, pen-testing is the better option. In the end, it’s important to remember that both security auditing and pentesting are valuable tools in an organization’s cybersecurity arsenal – it just depends on what you’re trying to achieve. You might be required to know some of the best penetration testing tools that are Astra Pentest, NMAP, Metasploit,WireShark, Burp Suite, Nessus.
Conclusion
Security auditing and pentesting are both essential in helping organizations protect their critical data. Security auditing is a preventive measure that helps identify potential weak spots before they can be exploited by hackers, while pentesting provides immediate feedback on the current state of your systems’ security post-implementation changes. Choose the right tool for the job, and your data will be safe!
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Author Bio: Ankit Pahuja is the Marketing Lead & Evangelist at Astra Security. Ever since his adulthood (literally, he was 20 years old), he began finding vulnerabilities in websites & network infrastructures. Starting his professional career as a software engineer at one of the unicorns enables him in bringing “engineering in marketing” to reality. Working actively in the cybersecurity space for more than 2 years makes him the perfect T-shaped marketing professional. Ankit is an avid speaker in the security space and has delivered various talks in top companies, early-age startups, and online events.
You can connect with him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankit-pahuja/
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