Cybersecurity is a critical concern for almost any organisation, and the ramifications of failing to secure networks, applications, and data are incredibly severe. With this in mind, you need a company you can trust to help you test and improve your security standing.
It is vital to choose a cybersecurity company that is accredited to an internationally recognised organisation with the proper credentials, to attain adequate protection and demonstrate your security commitment with clients and customers.
What/who is CREST?
CREST stands for the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers. The council is a not-for-profit accreditation body that provides advanced professional CREST certifications for companies that offer cybersecurity penetration testing services.
What is a CREST-certified company?
CREST member companies are rigorously assessed to ensure they are capable of providing effective security testing services to other companies. CREST Accreditation requires the cybersecurity firm to submit its policies, processes, and procedures relating to its service for CREST assessment.
CREST certification is an ongoing process that doesn’t allow cybersecurity companies to stand still or leverage outdated methodology and knowledge. Member organisations must submit annual applications with a complete reassessment required every three years.
Why choose CREST-certified penetration testers?
Being a CREST-certified company demonstrates the competency and international credibility of an organisation and the testers who work within them.
Many companies that offer penetration testing services are often unregulated, leaving you no guarantee that your business is secure against the latest threats. Penetration testing is extremely high risk if conducted by unqualified testers. Engaging only with highly qualified CREST-approved testers who follow the best internationally recognised practices is crucial.
What is a pen test?
A pen test is a method of evaluating the security of a network, computer system, and applications. The techniques used for penetration testing simulate an attack from malicious outsiders and malicious insiders. The pen test will identify attack vectors, access vulnerabilities, and control weaknesses.
Pen testers act as if they were a cybercriminal conducting a real-life cyber-attack. They look to exploit the same vulnerabilities to gain access and determine what information, data, and resources can be accessed and what malicious activities are possible. The pen test does not cause harm or disrupt your business operations while it is underway.
What are the benefits of conducting CREST certified penetration testing?
The benefits of choosing a CREST member company for penetration testing include:
- Testing by highly trained security professionals – with six to ten thousand hours of experience
- Customer assurance – you show clients, partners, and customers that you are protecting their data
- Globally recognised accreditation
- Regulatory compliance – with support for PCI DSS, GDPR, NIS, and ISO 27001
- Up-to-date knowledge – individuals and cybersecurity companies are regularly updated and tested
Why is it essential for businesses to carry out CREST-certified penetration testing?
CREST-approved companies ensure you have all the proper processes and controls in place to prevent potential outsider and malicious insider attacks. The CREST accreditation is confirmation that your penetration testing company has the correct, up-to-date skills, strategies, and techniques to give you the best assessment of your cybersecurity.
You can be confident that you are using a legitimate company and know they have passed and continue to pass strict controls to maintain their accreditation.
Contact us today to learn more about CREST-certified penetration testing and the services we can offer you to protect your business
