The word "hacking" often comes with negative implications, but not all hacking is a criminal act. In fact, ethical hackers take great pains to make your security systems stronger, more reliable, and less prone to attacks.
Did you know that in the US alone, the ethical hacking field is worth close to $4 billion? On top of that, there's an expected 21% annual growth in the industry. Why? The answer is simple. It's becoming increasingly vital to invest in a business security system that protects against cybersecurity threats.
But what exactly is ethical hacking? What are the benefits and how do you actually hire an ethical hacker?
Find out this and more below!
What Is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is a legitimate method that involves finding flaws in an application, system, or organization's infrastructure. The entire purpose serves to get under and beyond their security to find vulnerabilities and weak spots. Ethical hacking is the process through which your business can achieve enhanced security.
If you choose to hire a hacker, they will be able to help you:
-
Identify vulnerabilities
-
Evaluate the security of your system
-
Find weak spots in networks or infrastructures
-
Find exposed sensitive data
-
Discover breaches in authentication protocols
These ethical hacking functions are more important than ever in the age of cybercrime. Here are just a few of the types of cybercrime that an ethical hacker could protect you from:
-
Ransomware
-
Malware
-
Viruses
-
Worms
-
Theft of data
-
Cryptojacking
-
Cyberespionage
Why Hire an Ethical Hacker?
It's a changing and evolving world out there, and a solution that worked for you yesterday may not work for you today. For example, did you know that 93.6% of observed malware was polymorphic? This means it has the capacity to change and constantly adapt its code to avoid detection.
There's always more to the story, we know that. So let's dive into how ethical hackers can help.
1. They Understand Their Enemies
Even if you have experience in the IT industry, it's difficult to comprehend how hackers think. Your company could suffer because of this, especially if you're not well-versed in how hackers operate, what they want from you, and how they're going to get it.
These "bad guys" are always looking for opportunities and will be more than eager to exploit any lack of understanding. While ethical, or white hat hackers may be more moral in their conduct, they are still aware of what motivates their less honorable peers.
They're aware of how hackers work and they can employ this information to safeguard your network against intrusion.
2. They Know Where to Look
A corporate network can be incredibly complex, especially in the age of remote working and interconnected servers. It can be challenging to know what to look for when evaluating your cyber security, but ethical hackers are aware of where to start.
For example, mobile devices, home-workers, and staff logging on while on the road are all potential risks, and these are vulnerabilities. Knowing where to look is half the battle, but it's an especially important one to fight.
3. They’ll Find the Weak Spots
Even if you believe your network is impervious to attack, you may have hidden vulnerabilities. You may not be able to see these, but someone with ethical hacking skills will.
One of the main reasons to hire an ethical hacker is to discover well-hidden gaps in your cyber security. These can include back doors, open ports, and any potential access points connected to your networks. They're the places criminals will look if they've found a strong system upfront, so it's helpful to have someone who's a master at locating these more in-depth problems.
4. Top Tier Testing Skills
A strong cyber protection strategy includes testing and retesting your network, but the effectiveness of the tactic depends on how well the testers do their jobs. You can develop a false sense of security because of this testing if your testers don't know what to look for, which can lead to a severe data breach.
Ethical hackers are the best for network testing and intrusion detection, simply because they have years of specialized experience.
5. Facilitate the Building of Strong Networks
Making an ethical hacker a member of your team will help you build a more robust and flexible network, especially if you're in the commercial sector. Working with an ethical hacker can give you a significant edge, and building a network with built-in security mechanisms will significantly lower your susceptibility to breaches and data theft.
6. They Can Educate Your Security Team
Even if you don't bring an ethical hacker in full time, they can implement their processes and then educate your own team about what to look for and how to protect against cyber criminals and other threats.
This is imperative if you want to maintain the standard the hacker has set, otherwise, time will pass and you will find yourself vulnerable once more.
7. Conducting Social Engineering Hacks
One of the most interesting reasons to hire an ethical hacker is the fact that they can, and should, conduct a wide variety of covert hacks and tests. Using their expertise, they can test not only your company's policies and cyber security systems, but the knowledge, readiness, and awareness of your staff.
