Robust cybersecurity is now absolutely essential. According to a Cybersecurity Ventures report, global cyber crime costs will reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. A recent study by the University of Maryland found that there is a cyber attack every 39 seconds on average, affecting one in three Americans each year.
Knowing where your vulnerabilities are and working towards eliminating them is the key to achieving cybersecurity. One of the most effective methods to define potential threats and, thus, safeguard your business is through regular penetration tests performed by a certified external company.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the CREST penetration testing, what it is, and why does it matter? We’ll explain its basics and importance as well as how it helps organizations to identify weaknesses before hackers do, how it simulates real-world attacks, protects customer trust, and saves money by preventing costly breaches. We’ll also be comparing CREST with other standards like CHECK, so you can see which is best for your business.
The Critical Importance of Penetration Testing
The frequency of digital attacks continue to rise, underscoring the critical role that penetration tests play in safeguarding businesses. Consider these compelling reasons why it is of paramount importance:
- Proactive Threat Identification: Allows businesses to identify vulnerabilities before cybercriminals do. By staying ahead of threats, organizations can take preemptive action to mitigate risks.
- Real-World Simulation: Replicates real-world attack scenarios, providing insights into how cybercriminals might exploit weaknesses. This knowledge is invaluable for shoring up defenses.
- Protecting Customer Trust: A successful cyber attack can erode customer trust and damage a brand’s reputation. Penetration testing helps prevent breaches that could jeopardize sensitive customer information.
- Cost Savings: Investing in penetration testing is a proactive strategy that can save businesses substantial financial losses by preventing costly data breaches.
Understanding the CREST Penetration Testing
CREST certification is an internationally recognized accreditation. It signifies that a cybersecurity provider has met stringent standards for conducting comprehensive penetration tests. But why exactly is CREST certification so vital?
Penetration testing involves simulating cyber attacks by registered ethical security testers to identify vulnerabilities within a company’s digital infrastructure. By mimicking the tactics of malicious hackers, cybersecurity experts uncover weaknesses that could potentially be exploited. CREST penetration testing ensures that the process is conducted with precision, depth, and a thorough understanding of modern cyber threats.
CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) is a not-for-profit accreditation and certification body that supports the technical information security industry. Established to address the need for high standards in cybersecurity testing services, CREST provides internationally recognized accreditations for organizations who deliver penetration testing, cyber incident response, threat intelligence services, and other cybersecurity services.
The CREST certified penetration testing organizations ensures that its members adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct, possessing the necessary skills, knowledge, and competence to combat complex threats. By maintaining rigorous assessment criteria and promoting continuous professional development, CREST plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality and reliability of cybersecurity practices globally.
The Objectives of a CREST Penetration Test
The objectives of CREST penetration testing are designed to elevate the quality and reliability of cybersecurity services, with a particular focus on providing testing services. These objectives are achieved through a series of strategic advantages that a CREST pen test offers, ensuring businesses receive the highest standard of cybersecurity protection.
Highly Trained Security Experts
A CREST pen test is performed by professionals who have passed a series of exams to demonstrate their competence. These highly technically competent individuals must re-certify every three years and accumulate extensive hands-on experience, ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 hours. This rigorous training ensures that a CREST registered penetration tester possess a granular understanding of vulnerabilities and the latest cybersecurity threats.
Improved Customer Assurance
Organizations often need to demonstrate their commitment to data protection and security controls to their customers. Using a CREST-accredited pen testing provider allows businesses to prove adherence to the highest security standards, thereby enhancing customer trust. Additionally, commissioning a CREST certified company can provide a commercial advantage when bidding for contracts..
Supports Regulatory Compliance
Navigating complex data security regulations is critical for modern businesses. A CREST penetration test supports these regulatory requirements by providing thorough assessments of security controls that meet both direct and indirect mandates for security evaluations. Therefore, a CREST certified company can ensure that their clients remain compliant and avoid penalties posed by regulatory bodies.
Globally Recognized CREST Accreditation
Although the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers is based in the UK, its accreditation is recognized worldwide. This global recognition provides valuable assurance for companies with an international presence or those working with overseas customers. Using a CREST-accredited pen testing provider ensures that the security controls and assessments are credible and widely accepted, enhancing the organization’s reliability.
Up-to-Date Expertise
The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving. CREST ensures that its member organizations and certified professionals stay current with these developments. The certification process is repeated periodically, and the CREST member companies are regularly updated on the latest technical information assurance advancements.
Participation in member workshops further ensures that CREST-certified professionals maintain cutting-edge adversarial knowledge, leading to more effective pen testing. By achieving these objectives, CREST certified penetration testing organisations contribute to enhancing the overall security posture of businesses globally.
The rigorous standards and continuous professional development required for CREST certification ensure that businesses can rely on thorough, ethical, and technically proficient pen testing to safeguard their assets, thereby providing a competitive edge and ensuring success.
CREST vs. CHECK Penetration Testing
CREST and CHECK are two highly regarded standards in pen testing, each with unique features, focus areas and meaningful market differentiators. If you are procuring penetration testing services, here is a brief comparison to help you determine which is better suited for different sectors:
CHECK Accredited Penetration Testing:
- Focus: Primarily targets government and public sector organizations, including critical national infrastructure (CNI).
- Authority: Managed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a UK government agency.
- Certification: Emphasizes company qualifications and methodologies.
- Evaluation Process: Involves stringent company audits to ensure adherence to NCSC CHECK methodology.
- Methodology: Strictly follows the specific NCSC CHECK methodology.
- Compliance: While it ensures in-depth knowledge of compliance requirements, it may not directly address all needs.
- Cost: Potentially more expensive due to the limited pool of CHECK-approved companies.
- Benefits: Designed for high-risk government and CNI systems, ensures adherence to a rigorous, government-backed methodology, and enhances the security posture for critical infrastructure.
CREST Accredited Penetration Testing:
- Focus: The CREST pen testing has broad applicability across various industries.
- Authority: International, not-for-profit accreditation and certification body.
- Certification: Focuses on individual CREST certified penetration testers competencies through exams.
- Evaluation Process: The CREST pen testing Involves rigorous exams and practical assessments for individuals.
- Methodology: Follows industry best practices and recognized frameworks (e.g., PTES, NIST) across the technical information security market.
- Compliance: Can be tailored to address various compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS).
- Cost: Generally less costly due to the wider availability of certified providers.
- Benefits: Strong focus on individual penetration tester skills, broad applicability across industries, increased flexibility in test methodologies, and can be tailored for compliance needs.
Which Type is Better for Different Business Sectors?
CREST Accredited Penetration Testing:
- Global Enterprises: CREST’s international recognition and broad applicability make it ideal for businesses with a global footprint.
- Financial Sector: Financial institutions benefit from CREST’s rigorous individual certifications and up-to-date expertise, crucial for safeguarding sensitive data.
- Private Sector Companies: Private companies can use CREST accreditation to demonstrate a high level of cybersecurity commitment, enhancing customer trust and competitive advantage.
- Technology Companies: Firms in the tech industry, facing information security risk, can leverage CREST’s emphasis on continuous learning and industry best practices.
CHECK Accredited Penetration Testing:
- Government and Public Sector: Public sector bodies and organizations working on UK government contracts should opt for CHECK to meet specific regulatory requirements.
- UK-Based Businesses: Companies operating primarily within the UK and dealing with government contracts will benefit from the stringent standards of CHECK.
- Critical Infrastructure: Sectors that are part of national critical infrastructure, such as utilities and healthcare, should use CHECK to ensure compliance with government security standards and reduce information security risk.
CREST and CHECK pen testing both offer high standards of security testing and cybersecurity assessments but cater to different needs:
- A CREST member company would be ideal for a broad range of industries, providing flexibility, global recognition, and a strong focus on individual tester competence. It is particularly beneficial for international businesses, private sector companies, and those requiring tailored compliance solutions.
- A CHECK member company would be best suited for government-related entities and critical national infrastructure within the UK, offering stringent, government-backed methodologies and enhanced security for high-risk systems.
Choosing between CREST and CHECK will depend on the specific regulatory, compliance, and operational needs of your business sector.
Steps to gain CREST certification:
- CREST Accreditation Processes for Individual Security Experts:
- CPSA (CREST Practitioner Security Analyst): Ideal for practitioners with experience working for cybersecurity companies. The examination requires a good understanding of security principles and the cybersecurity industry, in general.
- CRT (CREST Registered Tester): A higher level certification for professionals with at least 3 years of experience in performing pen tests.
- CCT (CREST Certified Tester): Among the three, this is the hardest to get professional certification and an impossible to pass for unqualified testers. This advanced certification is suitable for seasoned professionals with extensive expertise and sufficient experience in finding security vulnerabilities.
- Company Accreditation Requirements:
- Documented Processes and Procedures: CREST approved companies should maintain well-defined procedures for penetration testing engagements.
- Qualified Personnel: Build a team of penetration testers with relevant CREST certifications to validate expertise and effectiveness.
- Quality Assurance and Information Handling: Implement robust QA processes, stringent data handling procedures and personnel security.
- Professional Indemnity Insurance: Maintain adequate insurance to protect against unforeseen incidents during testing.
- Continuous Professional Development: Ensure ongoing training and re-certification to keep up with the latest cybersecurity trends and practices.
- Audit and Review: Undergo regular CREST examinations to ensure continued compliance with their standards.
Best Practices for Implementing CREST Penetration Testing
1. Setting Clear Objectives and Defining the Scope
Begin by clearly defining the objectives of the pen test. Establish what systems, applications, and data will be tested, and outline the types of attacks to be simulated and how to gain access. This ensures a focused approach and helps in effectively identifying vulnerabilities.
2. Partnering with CREST-Certified Professionals
Engage with CREST registered professionals to leverage their expertise and adherence to high standards. Foster collaboration between your internal team and the testers to ensure smooth communication and a thorough understanding of your systems.
3. Regular Penetration Testing Cycles
Schedule regular pen testing cycles to continuously assess and improve your security posture. Regular security testing also helps in identifying new vulnerabilities and ensures that previously identified issues have been effectively mitigated.
4. Comprehensive Reporting and Actionable Recommendations
Ensure that the penetration testing report includes detailed findings, valuable insight and actionable recommendations. A detailed report allows your organization to prioritize and address vulnerabilities promptly.
5. Continuous Improvement and Training
Promote continuous improvement by implementing the recommendations from the penetration testing report. Additionally, invest in ongoing training for your security team to keep up with evolving threats and security testing methodologies.
In 2023, AMATAS announced its debut as a CREST Penetration Service Provider. With a full team of in-house pen testers AMATAS is poised to deliver performing and comprehensive solutions to safeguard businesses.
“The CREST membership is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class penetration testing services. This accomplishment underlines our dedication to maintaining the highest cybersecurity practice and ethical conduct standards. As we continue to navigate an increasingly digital world loaded with ever-evolving threats, our customers can now have added assurance in partnering with a company that meets the rigorous standards set by CREST. Achieving this accreditation is not just a milestone for our team but a promise of quality and trustworthiness to our valued customers,”
shared Boris Goncharov, AMATAS’ CSO
AMATAS’ CREST Penetration Testing Services
AMATAS’ CREST accredited penetration testing services encompass an array of assessments to evaluate your organization’s digital resilience:
- Web Application Pen Test: This assessment focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in web applications, ensuring that they are secure from potential exploitation.
- Infrastructure Pen Test: The infrastructure test examines network components, servers, and devices to uncover vulnerabilities that could compromise the overall network.
- Wireless Pen Test: With the proliferation of wireless devices, this test ensures that wireless networks are robust against unauthorized access.
- Mobile Application Pen Test: In a mobile-first world, mobile app security is paramount. This assessment identifies vulnerabilities within mobile applications.
- Cloud Environment Security Assessment: As businesses migrate to the cloud, this assessment ensures that cloud environments are fortified against threats.
No Disruption of the Business Processes
One common concern is whether pen testing will disrupt the business processes. Rest assured, AMATAS understands the importance of maintaining operational continuity. Our pen testing is designed to minimize disruptions and is conducted in a controlled environment.
By partnering with AMATAS, a trusted cybersecurity managed services provider with security operations center, businesses can fortify their defenses, identify vulnerabilities, and receive actionable insights to stay one step ahead of cyber threats.
For the past eight years, AMATAS has proudly conducted hundreds of penetration tests for diverse businesses across industries. This record of accomplishment speaks to the company’s commitment to excellence and its dedication to enhancing cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes.
Duration and Deliverables of an AMATAS CREST Accredited Penetration Test
The duration of CREST penetration tests varies based on the scope and the complexity of the assessment. Normally, a thorough assessment could take several weeks from end to end. At the conclusion of the test, businesses can expect a comprehensive report that includes:
- Detailed findings of vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
- Clear, actionable recommendations to address each identified issue.
- Insights into potential attack scenarios and their impact.
- A roadmap for strengthening cybersecurity measures.
Embrace the power of CREST-certified penetration testing and safeguard your digital future with AMATAS. Contact us and let us help you secure your organization’s digital environment.
