According to Security Magazine research, more than 2,200 cyber attacks occur worldwide every day. Incredibly, this averages to about 39 attacks per second. These can range from minor scams or thefts to significant threats for businesses. Some estimates predict that by 2025, the global cost of defending against cybercrime will reach $10.5 billion. This sum includes the costs of breach detection, response expenses, as well as lost revenue for businesses and long-term damage to brand reputation.
Don’t let your business become a victim! Our article will show you how to defend against these attacks.
Does the solution lie in software testing?
If you're lucky enough that your company's data has not yet been targeted, don’t relax! Given the numbers mentioned earlier, cybercriminals can find you at any time. But how can you defend against cyber attacks? The solution might be in the hands of software testers, as security testing is the most widespread practice. Its goal is to identify and correct security gaps in software and to facilitate protection against cyber attacks, unauthorized access, and data leaks.
Why must you constantly focus on cybersecurity?
Due to technological advancements, businesses are continuously evolving. However, the latest innovations can also pose new threats to companies, as hackers quickly adapt and develop new methods to breach previously successful security systems. Therefore, security testers must also continuously educate themselves to learn the latest testing trends and innovations.
Moreover, as a leader, you are responsible not just for your own business's security but also for the data of your partners and customers, which can be jeopardized if you do not pay sufficient attention to continuous security testing. Take, for example, a business operating an online store. If this organization does not have a strong cybersecurity system, it's possible that its customers will not share marketing-useful data, thereby the company cannot better understand its customers or target previous clients with new offers. Implementing and regularly updating precautions can help reduce customer concerns.
Practical tips for security testing
Let’s see what practical methods you can use to compete with cybercriminals!
First, start with risk analysis! Before commencing security testing, it’s crucial to assess the risks associated with the system. This helps identify the system components that require the most attention, so these areas can be prioritized in the testing strategy. To reduce the costs of software testing, testing should begin as early as possible in the development process. Early identification and correction of errors are less costly than addressing these problems later.
Extra tips for security testing
If you wish to enhance the effectiveness of security testing, combine automated tools and manual testing during software testing. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, so complementing one with the other can help uncover vulnerabilities more broadly. Our final practical tip is to document and rank vulnerabilities. This method facilitates the quick and effective management of vulnerabilities.
Nowadays, defending against cyber attacks is not just a technical challenge but a strategic priority. While reading our article – which took roughly 4 minutes – based on current statistics, 6 cyber attacks occurred, threatening not just the operations of the attacked companies but also the security of their customers. The rising costs of combating cybercrime and the available data highlight that applying security testing and proactive defense strategies is not a luxury for businesses, but a necessity.