Security News > 2024 > May > How workforce reductions affect cybersecurity postures

Cobalt analyzed 4,068 pentests, revealing a 21% increase in the number of findings per pentest engagement year-over-year, aligning with increases in Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures records.

In addition to its pentesting analysis, the report also includes a survey of more than 900 cybersecurity professionals across the U.S. and U.K. The study digs into how cyber professionals are balancing internal staffing and working with external partners, the push-pull of AI as both a tool and a threat, and the challenges the C-suite faces to lead change.

The study highlights the push-pull relationships cyber security teams have with AI. 86% cite their teams having adopted AI-powered tools, while seven in ten respondents also cite an increase in threats coming from AI. Throughout 2023, Cobalt performed increasing pentests on AI systems, primarily on software products incorporating AI-enabled chatbots to improve user experience.

This is leading many companies to look at how they will utilize partnerships and vendors to improve security measures, with 59% agreeing they will increase pentesting in 2024.

"With cybersecurity teams strained by staffing shortages and concerns rising about AI's potential to enhance cyberattacks, the importance of pentesting as a proactive measure is key," said Caroline Wong, Chief Strategy Officer at Cobalt.

Pentesting remains a reliable way to identify both historic and nascent vulnerabilities within applications and systems, and security teams should maintain their commitment to regular pentesting as technology and cybercriminals advance in tandem with one another.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2024/05/08/pentesting-cybersecurity-importance/