The Future of Offensive Pentesting with Mark Goodwin
Dec 12, 2024
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Mark Goodwin, Director of Operations at Bishop Fox and former U.S. Air Force officer, shares insights on offensive penetration testing. He discusses proactive strategies for identifying vulnerabilities, the evolution of automation in cybersecurity, and the importance of collaboration between red and blue teams. Goodwin highlights the risks of subdomain takeovers and offers strategies for effective vulnerability management. The conversation explores how advanced tools can enhance security measures in a rapidly changing landscape.
Offensive penetration testing is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing security before real-world threats emerge, thereby strengthening defenses.
Bishop Fox's Cosmos platform represents a significant advancement in continuous offensive security testing through automation and client collaboration to improve vulnerability management.
Deep dives
Understanding Offensive Penetration Testing
Offensive penetration testing involves simulating real-world attacks on a system, network, or application to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The primary objective is to assess security weaknesses before malicious actors can take advantage of them, consequently strengthening defenses. Bishop Fox, a firm specializing in this domain, emphasizes proactive security measures through a methodical approach to offensive testing. By continuously probing and evaluating attack surfaces, organizations can better protect sensitive data and maintain robust security postures.
The Cosmos Platform's Evolving Role
The Cosmos platform represents Bishop Fox’s shift toward continuous offensive security testing at scale. Initially starting as a consulting firm, Bishop Fox saw the need to enhance its offerings by developing a platform that integrates automated scanning and analysis for better identification of security issues. Key innovations include automating processes like attack surface monitoring and prioritizing vulnerabilities, ensuring that teams remain focused on the most pressing threats. This evolution embodies a balance between human expertise and advanced technology, enabling clients to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Collaboration and Client Engagement
Client collaboration plays a vital role in the effectiveness of the Cosmos platform. By fostering open communication, clients can confirm the accuracy of identified assets and vulnerabilities, leading to more efficient and targeted remediation efforts. This partnership model not only enhances security outcomes but also builds trust with clients who may have previously encountered a more adversarial approach to security assessments. As organizations shift towards a more cooperative relationship with security providers, they can better navigate vulnerabilities and improve their overall security landscape.
Navigating the Challenges of Continuous Security Testing
Continuous security testing requires organizations to maintain constant vigilance over their attack surfaces to address new vulnerabilities and threats effectively. By tracking emerging threats and adapting scanning schedules, teams strive to deliver timely and relevant insights to clients. The filtering and prioritization of detected vulnerabilities are essential for managing workload and ensuring that high-risk issues are addressed promptly. This proactive stance supports a culture of continuous improvement, keeping organizations prepared in a landscape where security threats are ever-evolving.
Offensive penetration testing, or offensive pentesting, involves actively probing a system, network, or application to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, mimicking the tactics of real-world attackers. The goal is to assess security weaknesses and provide actionable insights to strengthen defenses before malicious actors can exploit them.
Bishop Fox is a private professional services firm focused on offensive security testing. Mark Goodwin is the Director of Operations at Bishop Fox and he was previously an officer in the U.S. Air Force where he did cyberspace operations. Mark joins the podcast with Gregor Vand to talk about Bishop Fox and the future of offensive pentesting.
Gregor Vand is a security-focused technologist, and is the founder and CTO of Mailpass. Previously, Gregor was a CTO across cybersecurity, cyber insurance and general software engineering companies. He has been based in Asia Pacific for almost a decade and can be found via his profile at vand.hk.