With the number of internet users increasing in Australia, it is no surprise that you could be the victim of a cyber attack by malicious elements. Every person owning a computer may not be familiar with the risks and malware associated with websites on the internet.
Present computers are not limited to performing simple tasks. On the contrary, they store sensitive data like bank account details and tokenized equity in crypto wallets. If a hacker claims access to these, it can be difficult to recover them, even with the help of relevant authorities. Due to this, penetration testing in Australia is gaining traction.
The Need for Penetration Testing
In simple words, penetration testing involves directing a simulated cyber-attack toward a computer system to understand the study of the vulnerabilities. The results can help the organization or individual patch up their security holes.
In a capitalistic economy like Australia, penetration testing is crucial. With private organizations growing in number, cyber attacks might be directed toward them in order to steal their data. Not to mention, Australian companies dealing in user data risk sensitive data of individuals being leaked out.
Let’s use an example to understand the repercussions better. Assume that you recently went on a trip to Brisbane and booked your tickets through a popular application. If the hacker gains a hold of this data or, worse, leaks it, it could result in a severe threat to your privacy.
So, how does penetration testing solve this?
Performing a Penetration Testing
As an Australian, you might be aware that in the year 2020-21, the Australian Cyber Security Center received more than 67,500 cybercrime reports, which marked a 13% increase from the previous year.
Irrespective of the intensity of cybercrimes, it is vital to find a check. To combat these threats and find vulnerabilities, penetration testing in Australia is gaining traction. This method relies on scanning some aspects, such as:
- Web apps: The process looks for hidden vulnerabilities and attacks patterns to ensure web apps’ safety. Targeting web apps can also help determine security gaps.
- Network: External networks and systems are more likely to invite cyber-attacks. Penetration testing tests the same using specific parameters like SSL issues and encrypted transport protocols.
- Cloud: Among the testing platforms, the cloud is perhaps the most difficult and requires complex testing procedures. The reason is that a third party usually offers these services. One way to test cloud security is to analyze factors like databases and storage.
Is it Worth Getting a Penetration Test?
The only downside of a penetration test is that it might be an expensive process. However, it is a one-time investment to secure your systems and potentially save data worth billions. Not to mention, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
It is an almost-perfect simulation of how a hacker would target your system. Additionally, it utilises methods that do no harm to your system or any of its files. It can also help bring forth some overlooked software flaws.
Final Thoughts
For Australia, a country on the cusp of a technological revolution, it is vital not to allow hackers to put a dent in the progress. Due to this, penetration testing is the need of the hour. It will rid you of all your stress and enable you to focus on evolving your business.
