PTaaS (Penetration Testing as a Service) is an on-demand service that enables organizations to undertake security testing when they need it. Unlike traditional penetration testing, PTaaS identifies, prioritizes and manages security vulnerabilities from a single pane. This results in a more affordable, convenient, and accessible solution when compared to traditional penetration testing with high administrative overheads and limited iterations.
At MAKINSIGHTS, our PTaaS is built on hybrid platform that includes both automated and manual testing approaches. The model has the proven benefit of in-depth security testing that eliminates false positives from bulky scanner reports while also allowing test scheduling and remediation activities to be centrally controlled.
By simplifying the customer onboarding, SoW processes and reporting efforts, we ensure the service offers a cost-effective approach to security testing.
How Does PTaaS Work?
PTaaS is packaged in a more agile format than traditional methods. This is exemplified in the slick onboarding procedure, on-demand testing and vulnerability management from a single pane. Here’s how it works with us:
- Subscribe and register. Get in touch with us.
- Provide target details. List the targets that need to be tested, such as your websites, applications or external infrastructure components.
- Initiate scanning and testing. Initiate or schedule scans and testing at any time from anywhere.
- We do the heavy lifting. Post vulnerability scanning, we eliminate false positives and use a hybrid testing approach that complies with industry security standards, such as OWASP, CWE and SANS.
- Track and manage vulnerabilities. Log into your dashboard to view, download and manage your vulnerabilities. You can update the status of each and/or request retests if required.
- Receive regular notifications. You’ll get these at every phase of the testing cycle by setting up recurring, automated activities.
As you can see, PTaaS transfers the remote control to customers so you can initiate security testing when you need it. It also provides a single view dashboard for managing every asset from vulnerability identification to remediatoin, so you can prioritize issues and improve your overall security posture.
What Are the Benefits of PTaaS
- Faster onboarding and turnaround 一 Anyone can register for a PTaaS service online and typically obtain initial scan results within 24 hours, thanks to automation. All the complexities around consulting, test schedules and report writing are removed.
- Fewer costs/overhead 一 PTaaS services run on either a subscription or flat-fee pricing model which allows simplified budgeting. PTaaS can be much more cost effective than traditional testing because it cuts costs on management overhead and report writing, while delivering a better quality of service
- Scalable 一 Whether you’re an individual or a large business, PTaaS can scale accordingly to your needs.
- Flexible reporting 一 A security test report is available anytime, anywhere, including those previous security test reports that got lost in emails.
- Expert advice on demand 一 A hybrid PTaaS provider will assign you to a penetration tester, who you can contact at any time during the assessment period.
What to Look For in a PTaaS Provider?
- Deep insights 一 Once your test is completed, your PTaaS provider should provide you with actionable and detailed insights on mitigation strategies, attack vectors, business impacts and vulnerabilities.
- Tester accessibility 一 Make sure you can contact your penetration tester at any time during your test lifecycle.
- Individually tailored 一 Every organization has different security issues, so a good PTaaS provider should only focus on what’s relevant to you.
- Expert personnel 一 The members of a PTaaS company should be established experts in cybersecurity and penetration testing. Make sure you check their backgrounds, qualifications, and reputation in the industry.
- Transparency 一 As a customer, you need to know what’s covered, the turnaround times and if you can prioritize the testing of critical systems.
Summary
PTaaS provides an excellent alternative to traditional penetration testing methods because it’s efficient, affordable and convenient. You can request one at any time and manage all of your security vulnerabilities from one control plane. It means you won’t have to put up with the complexities and time-consuming processes of traditional testing.
If you think your organization can benefit from PTaaS, then schedule a complementary conversation now! Our mix of automated and manual penetration testing puts you in control, so you can mitigate vulnerabilities as soon as they arise.
