Security tests serve different needs and have different methodologies. In this article, we go over the differences between attack surface and penetration testing (pen testing).
There are a number of different types of cybersecurity tests. Some offer continuous monitoring, and some are a standard test in time or an audit with a short shelf life. Find out what you need, based on your team's requirement, bandwidth and budgets for cybersecurity activities.
How continuous Attack Surface Intelligence compares with pen-testing?
Understanding the difference between pen testing and attack surface intelligence (ASI) is critical for cybercrime prevention and keeping your overall cybersecurity posture. The following table gives you a quick overview to know the differences between pen tests and ASI.
|
PEN Testing |
ASI |
---|---|---|
Scope |
Find vulnerabilities and configuration issues as possible within a given timeframe. |
Find, assess, and address potential attack vectors or risk exposures i.e., brand exposure, domains, vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, continuously. |
Insight |
Find, assess, and address potential attack vectors or risk exposures i.e., brand exposure, domains, vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, continuously. |
“What do adversaries see when they target us? What risk exposure would they exploit first, that'd hit us the worst?” |
Coverage |
Duration of testing |
Testing |
Time to Result |
~2 weeks |
24 hours |
Output and Delivery |
Automated reporting to high-touch personal engagement |
Automated reporting and portal access to high-touch personal engagement |
Annual costs of coverage |
$150 to 250K |
$40K to $120K for a whole year |
Netenrich's Resolution Intelligence Cloud features Attack Surface Intelligence (ASI) with multiple advantages over static pen tests:
- The start and stop nature of point-in-time penetration testing does not find potential attack vectors in your infrastructure and assets. However, Resolution Intelligence Cloud offers Attack Surface Intelligence with automated round-the-clock scans of your infra, lets you see what hackers see before them, and helps you proactively prevent exploits.
- See your overall digital exposure in one unified view and drill-down by risk indicators. Contextualize alerts with our proprietary threat intelligence baked right into ASI. Take strategic calls the minute high-priority risks are found.
- ASI allows you to use detailed impact reports and on-call guidance to mitigate threats that mean the most harm. Utilize analyst-vetted remediation recommendations and actionable insights to fix errors faster than ever before.
To learn how you can secure all your digital assets, schedule a demo.