Enhancing security with cybersecurity testing best practices

Organizations face an ever-growing array of cyberthreats that can compromise their sensitive data and disrupt operations.

Incidents like the National Public Data breach show how it’s essential for your organization to not only have a cybersecurity program but to also regularly evaluate its effectiveness. 

By following cybersecurity testing best practices, you can be confident that your security practices are helping to mitigate vulnerabilities and safeguard data against evolving threats.

Understanding the National Public Data breach

National Public Data (NPD) is a Florida-based company specializing in credit and criminal background checks.

In December 2023, third-party bad actors attempted to hack into NPD’s network, compromising sensitive information. The attackers were able to access an archive that included site administrator credentials on a sister NPD website, aiding their attempt.

The breach came to light in April 2024 when a cybercriminal known as USDoD began selling the stolen data on the dark web for $3.5 million. The exposed information included names, Social Security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers and mailing addresses of potentially billions of individuals.

By July 2024, the data had been leaked online, prompting NPD to acknowledge the breach on August 12, 2024.

With potentially billions of individuals affected, the scale of this breach is staggering. And the nature of the compromised information has the potential to put millions at risk of being a victim of financial crimes.

NPD also has to deal with legal and regulatory implications of the breach, with eight proposed class action lawsuits filed against them in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Enhancing your cybersecurity testing

The NPD breach highlights the need for your organization to implement stronger cybersecurity testing practices to help address your vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity testing is a crucial process that enables organizations to identify and address potential security gaps in their systems before malicious actors can exploit them. This proactive approach has become essential in today’s digital landscape, where cyberthreats are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated.

Here are some cybersecurity testing best practices your organization can implement:

Make testing a part of your routine

Regular cybersecurity testing is vital to helping ensure your cybersecurity program works against the latest threats and can benefit your organization with:

• Proactive threat mitigation: Testing helps your organization find and fix potential security issues before attackers can exploit them.
• Improved compliance: Many regulatory standards, such as HIPAA, GDPR and PCI-DSS, require mandatory testing and audits of security systems.
• Cost savings: Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early can save significant costs associated with recovery and remediation after a breach.
• Continuous improvement: As threats evolve, regular testing can help your organization stay ahead by continuously evaluating and improving your security posture.

Use automated and manual tests

Cybersecurity testing methodologies play a crucial role in identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening your security posture.

Automated assessments, such as vulnerability scans, can search for known and common vulnerabilities in applications and compare them against a database of vulnerable programs.

But often, automated testing is not enough. To fully protect your organization, you need to implement manual testing as well, including options such as:

• Penetration testing: Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking or pen testing, involves authorized attempts to breach system security. This method simulates real-world cyberattacks to evaluate your defenses. These tests offer a deeper assessment than automated tools, focusing on identifying complex or unknown vulnerabilities that may elude standard scans.
• Vulnerability assessments: Vulnerability assessments involve a systematic review of potential security weaknesses in your systems. Various types of assessments exist, including host assessments, network and wireless assessments, database assessments and application scans.
• Security audits: A cybersecurity audit is a formal process conducted by an independent third-party organization. It acts as a checklist to validate an organization’s cybersecurity policies and procedures. Security audits can provide a snapshot of your cybersecurity health and help you identify any gaps that need remediation.

After testing, your organization needs to analyze the results and create a strategy for remediation.

Work with your third-party testing services and internal teams to prioritize issues based on their severity and potential impacts.

How Wipfli can help

Gain confidence in your defenses with Wipfli’s experienced cybersecurity team. We can help you understand and address your vulnerabilities, with industry-specific support and solutions scaled to meet your needs. From attack simulations and vulnerability assessments to cybersecurity health checks, we’re ready to help you meet the latest cyberthreats.

Contact us or see more of our cybersecurity resources by visiting our Cybersecurity Awareness Month page.