11 July 2024

Today's world is very connected, and both people and businesses rely on digital infrastructure. This makes cybersecurity more and more important. Cybercrime costs a lot of money. By 2025, it's expected to cost $10.5 trillion a year. A new kind of hero called the Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) has been created to fight this growing threat.

An LPT is like a great hacker who works for the good guys. These people work in cybersecurity and legally attack a company's apps, networks, and systems using their deep knowledge of hacking tools and techniques.

What do you want to do?

It is called strategically finding vulnerabilities to find holes in a network's defences before hackers can use them. Along with the huge growth of the defence market, which is expected to reach $380.6 billion by 2026, there is a huge need for LPTs. This rise is due to the steady rise in hacks, which are aimed at all kinds of businesses.

LPTs don't just look for holes; they also give tips on how to play. They carefully write up their findings in in-depth reports that explain how bad each risk is and rate how important it is to fix issues based on how bad they could be.

They use their special skills to help companies close security holes before they happen. This keeps private data and important systems safe. As cyber dangers change, LPTs keep the digital age safe. They are an important part of keeping the world safe as it connects more.

What does an LPT mean?

Certified expert in identifying and addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Because cybersecurity is such a broad area, professionals need to specialize in different roles. One person in this group is a Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT). People who want to become certified penetration testers must first pass the LPTv8 Exam and get the LPT certification. People must have an ECSA (EC-Council Certified Security Analyst) credential before they can take this test.

Info on the LPTv8 Exam

To get the LPT license, you must pass the LPTv8 Exam. After paying, prospects get access to useful reading materials and an iLabs pass to help them study for the test. Candidates have 30 days from the start of the test to turn in their reports. Not doing so will result in failing the test, and there is an extra fee to take it again. Getting a new LPT card costs extra every two years.

What an LPT does and how they do it?

A qualified penetration tester shows that they are knowledgeable in many areas. Some of their jobs are:

  • Testing of both internal and exterior firewalls for threats
  • Analysis of web applications
  • Getting past passwords
  • Taking care of problems with loss of service
  • Hijacking people's lives
  • Getting SQL, switch, and router problems fixed
  • Safety for wireless networks

Getting mobile devices, VoIP, security patches, VPNs, virtual machines, cloud services, surveillance cams, broadband, data leakage, and email security up and running again.

What LPTs Are Worth?

Licensed security testers are important for businesses because information systems are getting more complicated. They look for vulnerabilities in the network, verify software versions, and suggest patches that are needed. Pen testing by an LPT on a regular basis can help find and fix vulnerabilities quickly, avoiding security breaches that could be very expensive. Their knowledge makes sure that known security issues are dealt with correctly, which makes their services a good investment for any business.

Why Should You Hire an LPT?

Hiring an LPT is important for handling cybersecurity issues early on and keeping hackers from getting to your data. Pen testers are one of the first pros that businesses should hire to check their security. Even though it costs money to hire an LPT, the advice they give to stop denial of service attacks and protect a company's image is worth it. Keeping an LPT can help you deal with a wide range of security holes and make sure your whole system is safe. As cyberattacks become more likely, licensed penetration testers will play a bigger and more important part in the future.

Why hiring a professional penetration testing company is a good idea?

There are many benefits to hiring a professional penetration testing business. They will give you an honest and complete assessment of your security. Here are six main advantages:

Savings on costs

Building and running an internal hacking team can cost a lot of money and time and effort. If you don't need security checking every day, it might not be worth the money and time to hire a full-time team. Hire a professional to help you with security testing without having to pay a lot of money for your own team.

Experts with a lot of experience and certification

Companies that do penetration testing hire skilled people from all over the world. For you, this means getting top-level knowledge without having to hire and train your own team. These professionals are always learning about new tools and ways to do things. They can do advanced security testing for your business.

Better Results All Around

External testers give you unbiased, detailed data and information about how secure your system is. Third-party testers give an unbiased opinion, unlike an internal team that might be influenced or rushed by production deadlines. They can also check how well your team handles possible threats, which can help you fix holes before they can be used against you.

Being flexible and available

When you have tight deadlines or your own team is busy with other things, outsourcing security testing is a great option. These goals can be met by professional testing companies, which can also handle continuous testing models well. Because they have the means, they can keep up with new technologies, which could be hard for an internal team to do.

One more layer of protection

A penetration testing business can add an extra layer of security to your work. These businesses have strict security checks and procedures in place, which lowers the chance of mistakes and bad management within the company. They keep your information safe with the same care they use to keep their own safe.

Compliance with Regulations

Professional penetration testers know what the rules are when it comes to following the law. As part of compliance checks, they often include external pen-testing. The tests are meant to help you meet audit standards and legal requirements. This knowledge makes sure that your security measures are in line with rules set by the business.

7 Key Considerations Before Hiring a Licensed Penetration Tester

These days, hackers are getting better and more common, so it's very important to make your network stronger. It is very important for this project to have Licensed Penetration Testers (LPTs). These good hackers practice their skills by simulating real-life hacks. This helps them find holes in security before bad people do.

Let's make sure the job goes well before you hire an LPT. Here are seven things you should think about:

Scope and Goals: Make it clear what the security test should do and how it should do it. What needs to be looked at in terms of technology, apps, and processes? Does someone have to follow certain rules, like HIPAA or PCI DSS? The LPT will work on the most important parts and give you results that meet your needs if the goal is clear.

Experience and Certifications: To find the best LPTs, look for those who have worked in your business and with the tools you use before. Some of the technical skills they have are shown by badges like Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Also, find out if they have worked with businesses that are about the same size before.

Methodology & Tools: Check out the LPT's ideas for how they will test and the tools they will use. Will they use black-box testing, in which they pretend to be an attacker who doesn't know anything about your systems, or white-box testing, in which they use information they already know? What method you pick should depend on how much risk you are willing to take and what you want to test. To keep your network running as quickly as possible, also make sure they use standard business tools.

Reporting and Talking: It's important to be clear when you talk to people. You can talk about the different kinds of reports you'd like to see, like broad overviews for management and in-depth reviews for your IT team. The reports should have a list of security holes, possible threats, and ways to fix them. The most important ones should be at the top of the list.

Legality and Following the Law: Check to see if the LPT is licensed and follows the law. A penetration testing agreement (PTA) should be put down. It should include the work that needs to be done, how it will be done, any privacy rules, and who is in charge of what.

Support After the Penetration Test: The test itself is very important, but support after the interaction is just as important. The LPT should be ready to answer questions, explain findings, and give advice on how to fix things.

Cost and Timeline: Be clear about how much you can spend and when you'd like the security test to be done. Rates for LPT can change based on knowledge, scope, and method. By getting quotes from several providers, you can be sure that you will get the best price and the most convenient schedule.

Conclusion

Getting a qualified penetration tester is one of the best ways to make your network safer. Because they are ethical hackers, they carefully model possible attacks to find and fix holes before bad people can use them. You can get a full picture of your network's defences from their knowledge, which helps find holes that automatic tools might miss. If you hire a qualified penetration tester, they will use their advanced skills and knowledge to make your security stronger.

This proactive method not only helps keep data safe, but it also helps companies follow the rules and standards that govern their industry. Hiring a licensed penetration tester will improve your overall security plan, keeping your systems safe and protecting private information. In the end, they play an important part in protecting your business from new cyber threats. Get in touch with trustworthy cybersecurity organization like SafeAeon, for complete solutions under one roof.

Frequently Asked Questions About Licensed Penetration Tester

A licensed penetration tester is a cybersecurity professional who has received formal certification or licensing to conduct penetration tests. This profession entails simulating cyberattacks on networks, systems, and applications in order to detect and resolve vulnerabilities before malevolent hackers may exploit them. Licensing or certification often entails completing tough exams and demonstrating actual experience with ethical hacking methods.
Hiring a registered penetration tester guarantees that you're working with a qualified individual who follows industry standards and ethical rules. A credentialed tester brings credibility, sophisticated skills, and up-to-date understanding of the latest threats and methodologies, allowing them to conduct a full review of your network's security and assist protect your company from potential cyber threats.
A licensed penetration tester should have the appropriate credentials, such as the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), or Offensive Security Certified Expert. These certificates indicate their knowledge of ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, and security best practices.
Hiring a Licensed Penetration Tester provides your organization with a thorough security assessment conducted by a certified expert. They use ethical hacking techniques to identify vulnerabilities, allowing you to address weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This proactive approach helps protect your sensitive data, ensures compliance with industry regulations, and enhances your overall security posture.

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