If you have never heard about ethical hacking, then you may think the thought of hacking your own network is absurd. However, there are many advantages to be gained by hacking our own system. In this post we will reveal everything you need to know about it.
So, what is an ethical hacker? This is a qualified computer and network expert who will attack your security system with your permission. As opposed to criminal hackers, they actually do this in order to help you. It is one of the most popular network IT solutions. By hacking your network they are able to identify any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a malicious hacker. Nevertheless, they won’t take advantage of these vulnerabilities as a hacker would, instead they will take note of them so that you can improve your security measures.
You may also hear ethical hacking referred to as pen testing, penetration testing or intrusion testing. The advantages of this service are varied. Firstly, as already touched upon, the ethical hacker will pick up on any vulnerable areas in our system. This can be anything from an administrator who gives unauthorized personnel your passwords to a lack of sufficient password encryption. Therefore, ethical hacking can determine both human and technology related vulnerabilities. By exposing them before a criminal hacker does, they can be dealt with in a manner that causes no harm to your business.
Ethical hacking is also popular because it provides an effective method of testing the security measures you have in place. Testing is done in an environment that is safe and controlled. You can never merely establish your security measures and leave them be. With so many of us working from home, you need to constantly monitor their performance to ensure they are effective. Ethical hacking will alert you as to whether any measures are ineffective or whether they require updating.
Aside from this, another advantage a lot of companies don’t initially consider is the fact that ethical hacking will help to alert them to the techniques that are used by malicious hackers. This will put you in a better position when it comes to developing security measures in the future. By understanding how these hackers operate, you are better placed to stop them from attacking your network. As they say, to catch a thief you have to think like a thief.
Needless to say, when it comes to using the services of an ethical hacker, quality is of the utmost importance. Reliable companies aren’t going to cut costs. They are not going to use the services of someone with minimal experience or credibility. After all, when you are allowing someone to hack your system, you are putting everything in his or her hands. This is why those who want to offer this service need to achieve all of the relevant qualifications and they need to build up their reputation effectively as well.
To conclude, while hacking is generally something that is frowned upon, ethical hacking is an entirely different subject. This can protect you from future problems and ensure you fix vulnerabilities in your system before someone else exploits them.
