In today’s complex digital environment, a simple automated scan just doesn’t cut it. Modern cybercriminals have an abundance of channels through which they can gain access to sensitive information, ranging from software vulnerabilities to unsecured networks.

To defend against these evolving threats, businesses need a penetration testing partner who goes beyond surface-level assessments – someone capable of conducting meticulous evaluations and delivering actionable insights.

Common Mistakes Made During Penetration Tests

To uphold the standard of service we’re proud to offer our customers, we’ve identified several common oversights in penetration testing that can lead to serious consequences. Here are some key examples:

Mistake #1: Over-Reliance on Automated Tools

Automated tools are valuable assets in any penetration tester’s toolkit. However, relying solely on these tools without human input and accepting their results at face value is likely to result in missed vulnerabilities – ones that threat actors are fully prepared to exploit from the moment they’re discovered.

 

Caption: While automated tools are an incredible tool for efficient analysis, it is critical that penetration testers use their own judgment to identify hidden vulnerabilities and ensure comprehensive security assessments.

At NetAssist, we incorporate a two-step verification process for reliable results. After our tools generate an initial report, our team thoroughly reviews each finding, eliminating false positives and uncovering hidden threats that automation might overlook.

Mistake #2: Failing to Prioritize Vulnerabilities by Risk

Understanding the severity of each vulnerability is essential for effective remediation. Without proper prioritization, teams may waste time addressing low-risk issues – leaving critical vulnerabilities exposed and giving attackers an opportunity to strike.

NetAssist delivers detailed risk scoring matrices that translate technical findings into clear and practical insights, ranked by their potential impact on your business. This allows your organisation to make informed decisions and allocate resources where they matter most.

Mistake #3: Relying on a Single Test Result

In order to deliver a comprehensive penetration test, remediation must not be based on a single test result. This stems from the heightened risk of false positives and overlooked vulnerabilities, which could lead to devastating consequences if left unaddressed.

That’s why NetAssist offers unlimited retests within the agreed scope. Multiple rounds of testing ensures that remediation efforts as many vulnerabilities are fully resolved as possible – a reflection of our commitment to our client’s long-term security.

Mistake #4: Failing to Provide Regular Client Updates

 

Caption: It is important to prioritize transparency and timely updates throughout every security assessment, to ensure that there is always clear communication during a crisis.

During a security assessment, especially at a time when concerns about compromise are high, we understand that silence from your testing partner can be unsettling. That is why our team at NetAssist recognize the importance of clear, timely communication during times of crisis.

Transparency and collaboration are essential for a cyber security provider. Our team at NetAssist provide periodic status updates throughout the testing process, keeping you informed of our progress and any critical findings and ensuring your organisation is always in the loop.

Our Approach: Why Choose NetAssist?

Every organization faces unique security challenges and operates within distinct resource constraints. That’s why we don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, for every vulnerability we identify, our internationally certified penetration testers will work closely with you to develop a customized remediation strategy that aligns with your goals and budget.

At NetAssist (M) Sdn Bhd, we aim to deliver a comprehensive, insightful, and client-focused approach that strengthens your security posture and protects your critical assets.

Contact us at [email protected] to learn how we can help you achieve your security goals today.

In today’s increasingly dynamic threat landscape, a reactive approach to cybersecurity is no longer sufficient to combat ever-evolving cyber-attacks.

Traditional Security Operation Centres (SOCs) typically focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to existing cyber threats — a ‘blue team’ approach of using security information and event management (SIEM) and threat intelligence.

However, cyber criminals are continually improving their malicious tactics – a trend that has only worsened with the widespread availability of generative AI. That is why NetAssist has incorporated a team solely dedicated to proactive threat hunting, a ‘red team’, into our SOC operations to better protect clients from evolving threats.

What are Red & Blue Teams?

A blue team’s primary responsibility is to defend an organisation’s assets through analysing its security posture and taking measures to address existing flaws and vulnerabilities. The team is also in charge of monitoring breaches and responding to cyber threats, as mentioned above.

In contrast, a red team focuses on offense: their efforts are funneled into simulating cyber-attacks and probing client systems for potential vulnerabilities. This allows cybersecurity teams to anticipate attacks used by cyber criminals, take actionable solutions, and patch weaknesses before they are exploited.

By incorporating both red and blue tactics into our SOC operations, NetAssist is able to proactively neutralize potential attacks to our clients. This ‘purple teaming’ approach integrates the best of blue and red team activities, and allows us to deliver a more comprehensive and robust protection in compassion to traditional SOC services.

The Benefits of Purple Teaming

In our experience, unifying red team and blue team tactics into a singular SOC powerhouse result in more effective and holistic operations – which enables us to better strengthen our client’s overall security posture.

 

For example, a purple-team SOC is capable of:

⦁ Improved threat detection: The red team provides insights into potential attack vectors by cyber threats, who in turn informs the blue team’s monitoring and detection strategies. This allows the SOC to stay ahead of cybercriminal tactics and identify threats quickly.

⦁ Enhanced incident response: By understanding how attackers operate, blue teams can develop targeted incident response plans that are more effective at minimising damage.

⦁ Strengthening security defenses: Red team vulnerability assessments guide the blue team’s implementation of improved security controls, monitoring parameters, and detection configurations.

⦁ Knowledge sharing: Active collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two teams allows the organisation to build a robust foundation of threat expertise, resulting in more efficient operations over time.

We aim to empower clients to not just react to threats, but to actively prevent them. With purple teaming bridging the gap between offensive and defensive security, we are confident that our SOC services are capable of proactive threat mitigation for our clients – and it will only continue to improve as we continue to innovate on our approach.

Have further questions? Please reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.