As technology continues to evolve, cybersecurity has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes. One of the key components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy is penetration testing.
Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is the process of simulating a real-world attack on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by hackers.
Here are statistics related to penetration testing that highlight the importance of this critical security measure:
Key Penetration Testing Statistics 2023 – MY Choice
- The global penetration testing market size is expected to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2025. (Source: Grand View Research)
- The average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million. (Source: IBM)
- 94% of organizations experienced a phishing attack in 2020. (Source: Verizon)
- The healthcare industry has the highest cost per breached record at $499 per record. (Source: IBM)
- 53% of companies do not conduct regular vulnerability assessments. (Source: Ponemon Institute)
- The average time to identify a breach in 2020 was 228 days. (Source: IBM)
- 84% of hackers use social engineering tactics to gain access to sensitive information. (Source: KnowBe4)
- 56% of IT decision-makers believe that their organization is vulnerable to a cyber attack. (Source: Security Magazine)
- 30% of organizations have never conducted a penetration test. (Source: Cybersecurity Insiders)
- The average time to contain a breach in 2020 was 83 days. (Source: IBM)
Penetration Testing Statistics
- According to a recent study, 71% of businesses consider cybersecurity as their top priority.
- 77% of companies use penetration testing to evaluate their security measures.
- The global penetration testing market size is expected to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2025.
- 57% of organizations have experienced a cybersecurity attack in the last year.
- 68% of businesses believe that a cyber attack is inevitable.
- The average cost of a data breach in the US is $8.19 million.
- 90% of cyber attacks start with a phishing email.
- 69% of organizations do not have a formal incident response plan.
- 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses.
- 60% of small businesses go out of business within six months of a cyber attack.
Table 1: Penetration Testing Market Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Global penetration testing market size in 2021 | USD 1.6 billion |
| Global penetration testing market size in 2026 | USD 3.0 billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2026 | 13.8% |
| Percentage of market contributed by top companies | >50% |
| Percentage of market revenue from vendors offering penetration testing solutions | 35-40% |
Table 2: Penetration Testing Software Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Percentage of tested companies with known software security flaws | 39% |
| Percentage of organizations that don’t believe their anti-threats can block detected threats | 69% |
| Percentage of companies that store billing addresses | 54% |
| Percentage of companies that regularly upgrade software solutions | 38% |
| Percentage of companies that monitor business credit reports | 31% |
| Top reasons for email delivery failure (bill/invoice, package delivery, legal/law enforcement, scanned document) | 15.9%, 11.5%, 13.2%, 15.3% |
| Top reasons for package delivery failure notice (bill/invoice, package delivery, email delivery failure) | 7%, 4%, 3% |
Table 3: Penetration Testing Latest Statistics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Percentage of external pentests that successfully breached network perimeter | 92% |
| Percentage of successful penetration vectors caused by poor protection of web resources | 75% |
| Percentage of systems where weak Wi-Fi security enabled access to resources on the LAN | 63% |
| Percentage of companies with breached network perimeter during external pentesting (2018) | 92% |
| Percentage of clients with network traffic analysis performed | 78% |
| Percentage of tested systems that failed to protect NBNS and LLMNR protocols | 86% |
| Percentage of tested systems with out-of-date OS versions on internal infrastructure | 44% |
| Percentage of successful cyberattacks against financial institutions | 5.3% |
| Percentage of successful cyberattacks against medical institutions | 38.9% |
| Percentage of IT budget spent on cybersecurity by medical centers | <10% |
| Percentage of all successful cyberattacks against online services | 35.1% |
| Estimated total amount of losses incurred by US businesses due to cybercrime in 2015 | USD 525 million |
| Percentage of companies with successfully breached network perimeter and access to local network | 93% |
| Percentage of companies with potential easy penetration vector | 71% |
| Percentage of penetration vectors involving insufficient protection of web applications | 77% |
| Percentage of companies with at least one such vector | 86% |
| Percentage of companies with identifiers for web applications that use domain authentication bruteforced via Autodiscover service in Microsoft Exchange Client Access Server through timing attack | 25% |
| Percentage of companies where zero day vulnerabilities allowed penetration | 14% |
| Percentage of client typology comprised by startups | ~50% |
| Percentage of repeat clients who requested penetration testing in 2020 | 40% |
| Percentage of targets with at least one critical vulnerability | 29% |
| Percentage of targets with one or more important vulnerabilities | 44% |
| Percentage of targets with one or more medium vulnerabilities | 47% |
| Percentage of targets with medium, important or critical vulnerabilities | 62% |
| Percentage of flaws found that were critical vulnerabilities | 11% |
Penetration Testing Facts
11. Penetration testing is also known as ethical hacking.
- It involves simulating a cyber attack to identify vulnerabilities in a network or application.
- Penetration testing can be manual or automated.
- Penetration testers use various tools and techniques to identify vulnerabilities.
- Penetration testing is not a one-time event; it should be done regularly.
- Penetration testing can help businesses comply with regulations and industry standards.
- Penetration testing can also help businesses avoid reputational damage.
Penetration Testing Benefits
18. Penetration testing helps businesses identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.
- Penetration testing can help businesses prioritize their security investments.
- Penetration testing can help businesses comply with regulations and industry standards.
- Penetration testing can help businesses avoid reputational damage.
- Penetration testing can help businesses avoid costly data breaches.
Penetration Testing Trends
23. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly being used in penetration testing.
- Cloud-based penetration testing is becoming more popular.
- Penetration testing is being integrated into the software development lifecycle.
- Bug bounty programs are becoming more popular.
- More businesses are outsourcing their penetration testing needs.
- The use of automation in penetration testing is increasing.
Penetration Testing Adoption
29. Large enterprises are more likely to adopt penetration testing than small and medium-sized businesses.
- The financial services sector is the largest user of penetration testing.
- The healthcare sector is increasing its adoption of penetration testing.
- The government sector is increasing its adoption of penetration testing.
Penetration Testing Overview
- The global penetration testing market is expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2025.
- Penetration testing is now a requirement for compliance with many industry regulations, including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
- According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.
- Penetration testing is a proactive approach to identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, rather than a reactive approach after a breach has occurred.
Penetration Testing Benefits
- Penetration testing can help identify and address vulnerabilities before they are exploited by hackers.
- Penetration testing can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of an organization’s security controls and policies.
- Penetration testing can help organizations meet compliance requirements and avoid costly fines.
- Penetration testing can help organizations protect their reputation and avoid damage to their brand.
Penetration Testing Frequency
- According to a survey by Cynet, 40% of organizations conduct penetration testing once a year or less.
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology recommends that organizations conduct penetration testing at least once a year, or whenever significant changes are made to the network or systems.
- The frequency of penetration testing should be based on the organization’s risk profile and the level of security required.
Penetration Testing Methodologies
- There are two main methodologies for penetration testing: white box and black box.
- In a white box test, the tester has complete knowledge of the system being tested, including system architecture, network layout, and source code.
- In a black box test, the tester has no prior knowledge of the system being tested and must conduct reconnaissance to gather information.
- Gray box testing is a hybrid approach that gives the tester some knowledge of the system being tested.
Penetration Testing Tools
- There are a variety of tools available for conducting penetration testing, including open source tools and commercial tools.
- Some popular open source tools for penetration testing include Metasploit, Nmap, and Wireshark.
- Some popular commercial tools for penetration testing include Rapid7, Qualys, and Nessus.
Penetration Testing Challenges
- Penetration testing can be time-consuming and expensive.
- Penetration testing requires specialized knowledge and expertise, which can be difficult to find and retain.
- Penetration testing can sometimes result in false positives, which can be a waste of time and resources.
- Penetration testing can sometimes result in false negatives, which can leave vulnerabilities undiscovered.
Penetration Testing Trends
- The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to play a larger role in penetration testing in the future.
- The rise of cloud computing has led to an increased need for penetration testing of cloud environments.
- The Internet of Things (IoT) is also creating new challenges for penetration testing, as connected devices can be difficult to secure.
