In 2023, large fines hit Meta (€1.2 billion) and TikTok (€14.5 million) for GDPR violations, but not because they lacked security or had a certain number of vulnerabilities. The focus was on their actions (or lack thereof) to protect user data based on their budget, size, and needs.
This is where CREST accredited penetration testing steps in. Conducted by certified professionals leveraging the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) framework, it sets and follows strict standards for companies and individual professionals alike.
Although its primary focus is in the UK, it has earned a name as a globally recognized standard from the United States to Asia and Australia. But before we dive into the nuances of CREST pentests, let’s learn a bit more about why your company needs a CREST certification and pentest.
What is CREST?
Established in 2006, CREST is a membership organization dedicated to elevating the global cybersecurity landscape. They achieve this through a multi-tiered approach:
- Quality Assurance: Member companies undergo a rigorous vetting process, ensuring high-quality security professionals worldwide.
- Professional Certifications: CREST offers a range of certifications that validate the skills and knowledge of cybersecurity professionals.
Initially focused on the UK, CREST has expanded its reach to Europe, Asia, EMEA, the Americas, and Australasia.
Why Astra is the best in pentesting?
- We’re the only company that combines automated & manual pentest to create a one-of-a-kind pentest platform.
- Vetted scans ensure zero false positives.
- Our intelligent vulnerability scanner emulates hacker behavior & evolves with every pentest.
- Astra’s scanner helps you shift left by integrating with your CI/CD.
- Our platform helps you uncover, manage & fix vulnerabilities in one place.
- Trusted by the brands you trust like Agora, Spicejet, Muthoot, Dream11, etc.
Why do you need a CREST Accredited Penetration Test?
1. Rigorous Evaluation
Your pentest is only as effective as your security expert. CREST certification guarantees your penetration tester has demonstrably conquered rigorous exams and practical assessments.
This translates to a granular understanding of vulnerabilities, a holistic knowledge of the latest updates, and an ability to pinpoint faulty server access controls, hidden business logic, and even privilege-escalation vulnerabilities.
2. Trustworthy Approach
A CREST accreditation emphasizes ethical and legal conduct, which can be observed through the adoption of well-drafted, documented procedures, clear communication, and prioritization of your security system throughout the process.
Such an approach minimizes, if not eliminates, the risk of unauthorized actions or accidental damage during the testing process.
3. Technical Expertise
CREST-certified professionals bring a deep well of technical expertise to the table. They stay current on the latest hacking tactics and VAPT methodologies, such as SSRF, leading to a more thorough assessment.
4. Compliance Assistance
Data security regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS can be complex. A CREST pentester is fluent in technical controls and testing methodologies that these regulations mandate.
This allows them to tailor tests to meet specific compliance requirements, thus saving significant time, non-compliance fee expenses, and resources.
5. Increased Customer Assurance
In today’s data-driven world, customer confidence is paramount. The CREST accreditation acts as an independent seal of approval, demonstrating your commitment to using top-tier professionals and adhering to the highest standards.
They strengthen trust with existing customers and give you a competitive edge when attracting new prospects.
CHECK vs CREST Penetration Testing
| Feature | CHECK Penetration Testing | CREST Penetration Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Government and public sector organizations, critical national infrastructure (CNI) | Broad applicability across various industries |
| Authority | National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - UK government agency | International, not-for-profit accreditation and certification body |
| Certification | Focuses on company qualifications and methodologies | Focuses on individual pentester competency through exams |
| Evaluation Process | Stringent company audits to ensure adherence to NCSC CHECK methodology | Rigorous exams and practical assessments for individuals |
| Methodology | Adheres to the specific NCSC CHECK methodology | Follows industry best practices and recognized frameworks (e.g., PTES, NIST) |
| Compliance | It may not directly address all compliance needs but ensures in-depth knowledge of the same | Can be tailored to address various compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS) |
| Cost | Potentially more expensive due to the limited pool of CHECK-approved companies | Generally less costly due to the wider availability of certified providers |
| Benefits | Specifically designed for high-risk government and CNI systems - Adherence to a rigorous, government-backed methodology - Enhanced security posture for critical infrastructure | Strong focus on individual pentester skills - Broad applicability across industries - Increased flexibility in test methodologies - Can be tailored for compliance needs |
What to Look for in a CREST-certified Penetration Testing Provider?
Experience and Expertise
Prioritize CREST-certified providers with industry expertise. CREST certification ensures a strong foundation, but look for a company with demonstrable experience in your specific sector.
Make sure the CREST accreditation is current, ideally within the last 3 years, to ensure the provider’s knowledge and skills reflect the latest security practices. Request case studies or testimonials that showcase past projects addressing challenges similar to yours.
Communication and Process
Don’t settle for a one-size-fits-all approach. Look for a CREST accredited provider who takes the time to understand your unique security goals and tailors the testing methodology accordingly.
This might involve focusing on critical systems, simulating real-world attack scenarios, or integrating with your existing tools. Focus on teams that actively work alongside your team throughout the testing process with transparent reports and updates.
Cultural Fit
A successful pen test hinges on mutual trust and understanding. Choose a CREST accredited pentester whose approach aligns with your organization’s security culture.
For example, if your culture is highly risk-averse, a provider experienced in working with risk-conscious organizations would be ideal. Moreover, look for a team known for adopting proactive problem-solving and collaborative work to find solutions that meet your needs.
CREST Accredited Penetration Testing Process
Phase 1: Pre-Engagement
Planning and Scoping:
During this phase, you define the scope of the test, including the systems and applications to be assessed, the types of attacks to be simulated, and the level of access granted to the pentesters.
Information Gathering:
Here, your pentester reviews documentation, network diagrams, and configurations to gather information about your network architecture, policies, and potential vulnerabilities.
Based on the gathered information, the team then conducts threat modeling using techniques like network scanning, DNS enumeration, and social engineering to identify potential attack vectors and likely attacker motivations.
Phase 2: Testing and Exploitation:
Gaining Initial Access:
Post recon, the CREST accredited penetration testing experts try to exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to your systems by exploiting software bugs, misconfigured systems, or weak passwords discovered in the last step.
Once initial access is established, the pentesters next step is to escalate their privileges within the system to gain higher levels of control and move laterally in your network.
Maintaining Access:
Finally, the team attempts to establish persistence mechanisms to maintain access to your systems even after the initial testing phase concludes. This mimics real-world attackers who might try to establish a long-term presence within your network.
Phase 3: Reporting and Remediation:
Findings and Recommendations:
Following the CREST pentest, your provider sends over a comprehensive report detailing the vulnerabilities identified, methods of exploitation, and potential consequences of exploiting those vulnerabilities.
Most importantly, the report provides clear and actionable recommendations for remediating these weaknesses and strengthening your security posture.
Rescanning (Optional):
Furthermore, after implementing patches, some CREST penetration testing companies also offer valuable rescans to verify the effectiveness of the fixes and ensure complete remediation. On a successful rescan, a clean report is issued, and a publicly verifiable certificate is provided.
Astra Pentest is built by the team of experts that helped secure Microsoft, Adobe, Facebook, and Buffer
How to Obtain CREST Penetration Testing Accreditation?
1. CREST Examinations for Individual Security Experts:
As a security expert, CREST professional examinations offer a recognized pathway to demonstrate your penetration testing skills and cater to all levels of experience, from entry-level to seasoned veterans.
CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA):
The CPSA exam is perfect for anyone new to cybersecurity or looking to formalize their understanding of security fundamentals. It’s a multiple-choice test with 120 questions requiring a 60% pass rate, all within a 2-hour window.
Although there are no prerequisites, it is ideal for individuals with at least 2 years or 2500 hours of practical experience to ensure familiarity with network scanning, operating systems, and web application security.
CREST offers a technical syllabus outlining the specific topics and recommended reading materials to help you prepare.
CREST Registered :
CREST Registered Level Examinations are mid-level certifications designed for security professionals with at least 3 years (roughly 6,000 hours) of experience working independently, with a strong foundation in security principles and hands-on experience with security tools.
These exams validate your ability to perform security assessments without close supervision. The specific exams offered at this level, like the CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT), vary depending on the specialization (penetration testing, threat intelligence, etc.).
Each exam has its own syllabus outlining the tested topics.
CREST Certified:
At the pinnacle of CREST certifications, the assessments are designed for seasoned security professionals with 5-6 years (roughly 10,000 hours) of experience, with in-depth technical knowledge and strong analytical skills.
These exams validate your ability to lead and independently conduct complex penetration testing engagements. Certifications under this level include CREST Certified Infrastructure Tester (CCT INF) and CREST Certified Web Application Tester (CCWAT), among others.
Each focuses on specific areas of penetration testing. Unlike the entry-level CPSA, these exams involve both written and practical components and demand a high level of expertise.
2. CREST Requirements for Accreditation of Company
Although CREST doesn’t directly accredit companies, it does have a robust membership program for companies that offer penetration testing services and meet the following requirements.
Documented Processes and Procedures:
Develop and maintain well-defined procedures for all your penetration testing engagements to ensure your clients receive consistent, high-quality service that adheres to ethical hacking practices as necessitated by a CREST membership.
Qualified Personnel:
Build a core team with relevant CREST certifications to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development and help validate your team’s expertise and ability to conduct effective pentests, giving clients confidence in your ability to identify and address their security vulnerabilities.
Quality Assurance and Information Handling:
Adapt robust quality assurance processes to ensure the accuracy and reliability of your testing methodologies and reporting. Moreover, such stringent handling of information procedures helps safeguard data throughout the process.
Professional Indemnity Insurance:
Maintain adequate professional indemnity insurance to protect you and your clients in case of any unforeseen incidents during a penetration test.
Beyond the above, client testimonials, case studies, and specializations in areas like cloud, web application, or mobile app security can further enhance your value proposition.
How Can Astra Help You?
Built by experts with a collective experience of 50+ years, Astra offers a powerful PTaaS platform that seamlessly blends automation, AI, and human oversight to deliver a comprehensive security suite with 9300+ automated tests.
With our vetted scans, we offer zero false positives, seamless integrations with your CI/CD pipeline, and real-time AI-powered and human support. Moreover, leveraging AI, we draft custom test cases to help you identify complex business logic vulnerabilities.
Our custom reports and CXO-friendly dashboards translate complex security findings into clear, actionable steps.
Still don’t believe us? Take a look at what some of our customers have to say!
Final Thoughts
Thus, by choosing a CREST-certified penetration testing provider, you gain access to a team of highly skilled professionals who can identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
This not only safeguards your critical systems and data but also fosters trust with your customers and strengthens your overall security posture. Their understanding of compliance regulations ensures a comprehensive assessment that saves you time and resources.
Furthermore, the CREST accreditation signifies a commitment to ethical practices and clear communication, minimizing risks and fostering trust throughout the process. Don’t settle for a basic penetration test, get your CREST accredited penetration test today!
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FAQs
How much does CREST membership cost?
CREST membership fees vary depending on the specific program you’re interested in. As such, the average membership costs for CREST are anywhere between £1,200 and £26,500.
What is CREST in cybersecurity?
CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) is an international nonprofit that sets standards for cybersecurity services. They certify individuals (like penetration testers) and companies, ensuring qualified professionals and high-quality security assessments.
How long do CREST certifications last?
Most CREST certifications, like Certified Tester (CRT), require revalidation every three years. This involves ongoing professional development to demonstrate continued knowledge and skills.
