5 Types of Security Tests

Digital security tests are essential tools for any company, especially those with a strong online presence, whether for sales or work dynamics.

However, it's common for those who are not specialized in security to be unsure of how to perform these tests. How should these tests be conducted? What points should be observed?

First, it's important to understand the goal of security tests. They are primarily used to identify potential flaws, vulnerabilities, and issues that could facilitate cyberattacks on the company's systems.

Types of Security Tests

It’s worth noting that there are various types of security tests available for your company. For all of them, it is crucial to invest in professionals specialized in information security.

Choosing the appropriate mechanisms and strategies that fit your company's needs can be challenging. Security tests are vital for understanding the state of your business's system protection and for determining what actions need to be taken based on the diagnosis. This substantially helps the company protect itself from various cyberattacks.

1. Red Team The Red Team is a group of ethical hackers hired by the company to simulate attacks on its systems to identify potential flaws. The team members must be adept at understanding how cybercriminals operate.They anticipate identifying issues that might create vulnerabilities for cyberattacks. Thus, the Red Team conducts tests to ensure the company has an acceptable level of information security maturity and that responses to potential attacks are quick and effective.
2. Penetration Testing Also known as pentesting, this test uses a set of techniques to identify weaknesses in the company’s security system.An attack is simulated using real tools and strategies employed by cybercriminals. This is a more aggressive type of test, and the entire team, including management, should be aware that it will take place.This test can be cost-effective for the company, as it helps to make cybersecurity investments more targeted, focusing on areas that truly need attention.
3. Vulnerability Testing If you are looking for common vulnerabilities, this is the ideal and highly recommended test.A vulnerability test involves running an automated software that starts searching for flaws in the company’s system, such as potential data exposures due to incorrectly configured servers.Vulnerability testing can be applied to anything that uses the internet, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) or corporate servers.It is beneficial to perform these tests periodically. However, it is advisable to combine this test with some of the previously mentioned strategies, as it quickly identifies less complex flaws but may not catch more intricate issues.
4. Company Posture Assessment This test focuses on the human factor, which is one of the main sources of cyberattack facilitation.It involves assessing the policies implemented by the company to prevent potential cyberattacks and ensuring that employees adhere to these rules.Institutional actions, such as lectures, courses, and meetings on the importance of these rules, are also evaluated.Given that this test takes some time from the regular duties of staff, it is advisable to conduct company posture assessments every few months, especially when there are employee changes.
5. Bug Bounty - Bug Reward Program The Bug Bounty is an increasingly popular strategy among businesses. The program offers rewards to ethical hackers who find vulnerabilities and flaws in a partner company's systems.Its advantage comes from having systems and platforms continuously tested by various specialists with different backgrounds and ways of thinking.Upon discovering a potential flaw, hackers produce reports on the vulnerability, which are then delivered to the company’s information security team. The company then takes corrective measures to fix the errors and protect the systems.These tests can be conducted publicly or privately, depending on the needs and objectives of the contracting organization.

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Operating since 2020, the company offers options tailored to the needs of partner companies and employs information security experts with proven skills.

Schedule a meeting with the BugHunt team and learn about some success stories!