Penetration Testing: RE: Business justification for pentesting

[Michael Gargiullo <mgargiullo () pvtpt com>]

I agree with Craig on this.

PT is a small part of a security audit. Yes it's an important part
(vetting the controls in a practical manner), but it's only one part.
-Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Wright [mailto:cwright () bdosyd com au] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 4:38 PM
To: Kevin Reiter
Cc: sectraq () gmail com; pen-test () securityfocus com
Subject: RE: Business justification for pentesting

A pen test does not and by nature cover the requirements for SOX or any
of the other areas.
 
A Pen test can be used as a part of an audit but is not an audit. This
is a common misconception, but it is definately wrong.
 
I see this a lot (being a manager in a chartered firm). The audit
requirements can not be satisfied by a pen test and any firm that
believes this is deluding themself
 
Craig

        -----Original Message----- 
        From: Kevin Reiter [mailto:tux () penguinnetwerx net] 
        Sent: Wed 31/08/2005 3:18 PM 
        To: 
        Cc: sectraq () gmail com; pen-test () securityfocus com 
        Subject: Re: Business justification for pentesting
        
        
        Don't forget about federal regulatory compliance issues, if your
business
        falls under those categories (SOX, GLBA, etc.)
        
        Your company may even be *required* to have a third-party
audit/test done
        periodically (i.e. once per year) in order to be "certified" to
meet those
        federal requirements, as well as other items put in place (IDS,
        monitoring, etc.)



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