Penetration Testing: Re: Business justification for pentesting

[Kevin Reiter <tux () penguinnetwerx net>]

Craig Wright wrote:
> 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.)
I wasn't meaning a pen test all by itself, which is why I mentioned 
"audit" as well.
I also never said that a pen test would cover the requirements for any 
certain area, but "could be a requirement" for one or more (meaning, in 
addition to), as well as other items.
My apologies if my wording was wrong in the original post.

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