Cyber threats are evolving faster than most companies can keep up with. At the same time, regulatory pressure is increasing. Regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), and the Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2) demand higher security standards and stricter accountability. Cybersecurity leaders are therefore faced with the challenge of using limited budgets in a way that actually strengthens resilience. A recurring question is: Is penetration testing even worth it? This article explains why penetration tests are a worthwhile investment: they uncover real vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them, support compliance with regulatory requirements, and are a key component of an effective security strategy. The article also clears up common misconceptions about penetration testing. 

What is Penetration Testing? 

Penetration testing is the practice of simulating cyberattacks on an organization’s systems, networks, or applications to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. Unlike automated scans, penetration testing involves skilled professionals who think and act like hackers attackers to identify vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. It’s not just about finding flaws; it’s about understanding how those flaws could be exploited in real-world scenarios and providing actionable insights to fortify defenses. 

Key Features of Penetration Testing:  

• Delivers in-depth analysis of vulnerabilities and their associated risk levels within your system.  
• Combines manual and automated testing to replicate real-world attack scenarios.  
• Enhances IT team awareness by demonstrating the practical risks of inadequate security measures.  
• Provides clear, actionable recommendations for remediation. 

This human-centric approach goes beyond what automated scanners can deliver, ensuring a realistic and context-aware evaluation of your security posture. 

How CRA, DORA, and NIS2 Shape Security Requirements 

The growing threat landscape has pushed regulators to impose stricter cybersecurity requirements. Three critical regulations—CRA, DORA, and NIS2—demand organizations hold higher standards for securing their digital systems. 

• Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) enforces stricter requirements on software manufacturers, with a focus on eliminating security flaws early in development. 
• Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) ensures that financial institutions have the operational resilience to withstand cyber threats. 
• NIS2 Directive expands the scope of organizations required to meet stringent cybersecurity obligations. 

These regulations emphasizedemand proactive cybersecurity measures, transparency in reporting cyber incidents, and aligning security practices across industries. Penetration Testing not only helps organizations comply with these mandates but also enhances their resilience to cyber threats. 

Breaking Down Common Myths About Penetration Testing  

Penetration testing is an essential cybersecurity tool that provides significant value to organizations by identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening defenses. Despite its importance, many businesses still hesitate to embrace this practice due to persistent myths and misconceptions. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common myths about Penetration testing and why they’re simply not true.  

Myth #1: "We’re Secure, So We Don’t Need Penetration Testing"  

Even organizations with the most robust security measures in place can benefit from penetration testing. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and what’s secure today may not be tomorrow. Penetration testing goes beyond your internal assessments to identify hidden vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or overlooked gaps that could become entry points for attackers. It’s not just about checking what’s already secure; it’s about fortifying your defenses against emerging threats and unknown risks.  

Myth #2: " Penetration Testing is Just a Compliance Exercise"  

While it’s true that penetration testing helps meet compliance requirements for frameworks like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and ISO 27001 (Information Security Management), its purpose extends far beyond ticking a regulatory checkbox.  

Penetration testing simulates real-world attack scenarios to uncover actual vulnerabilities in your systems, including ones that compliance audits might miss. Compliance is important, but it doesn’t always mean you’re fully secure.  

Penetration testing bridges that gap by offering a deeper, more proactive approach to cybersecurity.  

Myth #3: " Penetration Testing is too Expensive"  

Many organizations avoid penetration testing due to perceived high costs, but this overlooks the broader financial risks. Regulatory fines for security breaches, such as under the GDPR, can reach up to 20 million euros or 4 percent of global annual turnover. According to IBM’s “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023,” companies lose an average of 1.3 million US dollars due to downtime alone. Add to that the long-term reputational damage, which can’t always be measured in numbers but often results in lost trust and business. 

Compared to these risks, penetration testing is a controlled, predictable investment. With flexible scopes and tailored solutions, it can be aligned to fit most budgets without sacrificing effectiveness. 

Myth #4: " Penetration Testing is the Same as Vulnerability Scanning"  

This is a common misconception, but penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are not interchangeable. Vulnerability scanning relies on automated tools to identify known weaknesses in your systems, providing a broad overview of potential issues. Penetration testing, on the other hand, goes several steps further. It involves skilled ethical hackers simulating real-world attacks to exploit vulnerabilities, uncovering complex issues that automated tools alone cannot detect.  

Penetration testing provides a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of your security posture.  

Myth #5: " Penetration Testing Disrupts Business Operations"  

Some organizations worry that penetration testing will interfere with daily operations, but professional pentesters are trained to minimize disruption. When planned correctly and conducted in coordination with your team, penetration testing can be carried out seamlessly, often during off-hours or in non-critical environments. By working around your schedule and taking precautions, pentesting professionals ensure the process is smooth and doesn’t negatively impact productivity.  

Understanding the Value of Penetration Testing  

By dispelling these myths, organizations can better understand the critical role penetration testing plays in safeguarding their digital assets. It’s not just about compliance or reacting to threats; it’s about being proactive and staying one step ahead of malicious actors. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, penetration testing provides the insights and resilience you need to protect your systems, data, and reputation. Don’t let misconceptions hold you back from this essential cybersecurity practice. 

How to Ensure Effective Penetration Testing 

Not all penetration tests are created equal, and a poorly conducted pentest can leave your organization exposed to critical risks. To ensure a high-quality assessment, it’s important to prioritize these key elements: 

• Tailored Scope: A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it when it comes to penetration testing. The pentest should be customized to the unique needs, systems, and challenges of your organization. This includes defining clear objectives, prioritizing critical assets, and understanding specific industry threats to deliver relevant and meaningful results that align with your operational goals.  
• Qualified Experts: The expertise of the pentest team can make or break the assessment. It’s crucial to select certified ethical hackers, such as Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), who possess proven knowledge of the latest attack trends, tools, and methodologies. Their deep understanding of real-world attack scenarios ensures they can uncover even the most hidden vulnerabilities and provide solutions that truly strengthen your security posture.  
• Transparent Process: A quality pentest isn’t just about the final report—it’s about the journey. Avoid being left in the dark by working with a provider that maintains open communication throughout the engagement. A transparent process ensures you’re informed at every step, from the initial planning phase to real-time updates during testing, and finally, a detailed debriefing when the engagement concludes.  
• Collaborative Approach: Penetration testing should be a partnership, not a confrontation. Your provider should work with you, not against you, fostering a collaborative environment that focuses on addressing vulnerabilities without creating an adversarial dynamic. The goal is to work together to identify and mitigate risks while ensuring findings are actionable and not just presented for the sake of delivering a long list of issues. 

By prioritizing these factors, organizations can ensure their penetration tests are not only thorough but also actionable, insightful, and aligned with their broader security goals. A well-executed penetration test is a critical step towards building a resilient security strategy. 

Is Penetration Testing Still Necessary with a “Secure by Design” Approach?  

Some organizations may wonder whether penetration testing is still necessary if they already follow a Secure by Design (SbD) methodology. After all, if security is embedded from the start, isn’t that enough? 

The answer is no. While SbD significantly reduces the likelihood of vulnerabilities by integrating security into every phase of development, it cannot guarantee that all risks are eliminated. Penetration testing adds critical value by validating whether those security measures hold up under real-world attack conditions. It identifies what was missed, what was misconfigured, and what can be bypassed in practice. 

Understanding how both approaches work together is key to building a mature, resilient security program. 

What is Secure by Design? 

Secure by Design is a methodology that embeds security into the software development lifecycle from the outset rather than treating it as an afterthought. By focusing on principles like”defense in depth” (layered security) and “least privilege” (only minimum necessary access), SbD ensures that systems are built securely from day one. 

Essentially, SbD addresses vulnerabilities before deployment, reducing the attack surface that cybercriminals could exploit. It’s proactive, cost-effective, and forward-thinking. 

Combining Secure by Design and Penetration Testing for Maximum Impact 

While SbD takes a preventive approach, penetration testing acts as a validation step by simulating real-world attack scenarios. Together, they form a synergistic relationship that strengthens your overall security posture. 

 

Why You Need Both: Secure by Design and Penetration Testing 

Relying solely on Secure by Design (SbD) or penetration testing is an incomplete approach. Each method contributes a specific layer of protection, but only their combination creates the depth and resilience required to defend against modern cyber threats. Here is why both are essential. 

 

SbD detects and prevents. Penetration testing validates. 

SbD embeds security into every stage of development to minimize vulnerabilities from the outset. However, even well-designed controls can fail when confronted with real-world attacks. Penetration testing simulates these attacks to verify whether the implemented measures are effective as intended. 

 

SbD offers a blueprint. Penetration testing fills the gaps. 

SbD defines how systems should be secured by design. But theoretical frameworks often miss human error, misconfigurations, and unforeseen interactions. Penetration testing uncovers these gaps by actively probing the system for weak points that were not anticipated during development. 

 

SbD is ongoing. Penetration testing is periodic. 

SbD provides continuous assurance throughout the development lifecycle. It becomes part of your engineering and operational processes. Penetration testing, in contrast, takes place at defined intervals, such as before major releases or after significant changes. It acts as a final check before systems go live. 

Combining both approaches ensures that you are not just designing systems to be secure, but also verifying their security under real-world conditions. Organizations that integrate SbD and penetration testing are better prepared, more resilient, and more trustworthy in the eyes of customers and regulators. 

Be Proactive, Stay Secure 

Despite everything said so far, penetration testing is not a silver bullet. They do not automatically make a company secure and cannot compensate for a missing strategy or poor implementation. If they are conducted only as a one-time measure or to fulfill compliance requirements, their long-term benefit remains limited. 

When used properly, with a clear objective, realistic threat scenarios, and accompanied by concrete actions, they can be highly effective. They help identify real vulnerabilities, challenge assumptions, and raise security awareness within the organization. 

They reach their full potential when integrated into a broader security strategy. In combination with strategic approaches such as Secure by Design, penetration tests become more than a snapshot. They evolve into a continuous validation process. Together, they form an essential foundation for a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. This enables organizations to detect vulnerabilities early and build resilient systems from the ground up. 

To achieve this, a test must be more than just a technical exercise. A penetration test must never be only a report. It should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen the organization beyond the actual test. Each engagement should not only identify vulnerabilities but also transfer knowledge, challenge assumptions, and enhance internal capabilities. The goal is not just to present results but to ensure they are understood, prioritized, and turned into concrete actions. 

Penetration tests are not a waste of money. Especially when combined with a Secure by Design approach, they fully realize their impact as part of a sustainable, long-term security strategy.