The pentesting market is predicted to reach $2.7 billion by the year 2027 from $1.4 billion in the year 2022. With cyber threats taking new turns every year, the pentesting domain too is proliferating at an exponential rate. Likewise, penetration testing trends are evolving with every passing year. So, while 2023 witnessed trends like more complicated security infrastructure aligned with the rising culture of remote working- 2024 is also poised to witness a bunch of new trends. This year is predicted to see better ways of the same designs and development to take on the world of cybersecurity.
The post below offers a brief on the major pen testing trends of 2024.

Why stay updated with the latest trends?

Pentesting plays a vital part in identifying a cyber security flaw and mending it. That goes on to ensure an important role in the proper functioning of an organization. If one has to pinpoint some special reasons for keeping up with the emerging trends in penetration testing, they are as follows.

Safeguard of company reputation

Confidential data breach not only deals a heavy blow to the company treasure but can also affect the overall operation and reputation. Updated pentesting measures help in fighting the hacking evils, tracking symptoms, and safeguarding the reputation of the company.


Verification of current security status

A third-party pentesting entity is always useful in cross-checking and verifying the security status of an organization. The vetting process helps to detect security gaps so that prevention measures can be taken before it’s too late.


Updated Training for Security Staff

Awareness of current pen testing trends will enable you to customise the security training for your staff accordingly. If you are looking for an updated penetration testing course, you can consider DataSpace Academy. The award-winning ed-tech offers industry-leading courses and also preparatory courses for global certifications like C|PENT.

Penetration Testing Trends of 2024

Some of the game-changing pentesting trends of 2024 are as follows.

1. Automation Tools for Scanning

Pentesting is adapting to more and more automation to streamline processes, courtesy of the state-of-the-art automation tools. 2024 is claimed to witness more of this trend and for all the right reasons. Automated scanning makes the process faster and more accurate, relieving human-borne errors. This way, human testers also receive more free time to concentrate on other more critical security tasks.


2. AI & ML Inclusion

Pentesting is constantly adapting itself to machine learning and AI technology in negative and positive ways. It accentuates its analysis, detection, and response faculties. That enables assessments to be more empowered, enhanced, and adaptive. AI & ML can be implemented in all the crucial stages of penetration testing- ranging from Reconnaissance to Scanning to Reporting.


3. Integration with DevSecOps

Marrying pentesting with the DevSecOps lifecycle makes sure security is taken care of at an early stage in the developmental line of action. That assures a fruitful system of security, besides mitigating shortcomings in the security system.


4. Cloud Security Testing

The rising popularity of Cloud culture is increasingly nudging the pentesting domain towards security audit of the cloud components and serverless architecture. Thus, this year, we are going to see more pentesting projects for cloud systems.


5. IoT and OT Testing

Pentesting is increasingly developing to assess the security status of industrial control devices, connected devices, and also the integration of OT and IT. This is especially because of expansion of OT (Operational Technology) and IoT (Internet of Things).


6. Focus on a Zero-Trust Cyber Architecture

With the advent of zero-trust security systems, pentesting is increasingly changing itself to measure the usefulness of network segmentation. Additionally, it also deals with accessing controls and constant authentication mechanisms.


7. More emphasis on regulatory compliance

Pentesting projects are increasingly complying with with regulatory requirements and industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS. That is to see that organizations live up to updated mandates and advanced safeguard measures.


8. Collaboration with HelpDesk Systems

Pentesting has patching procedures and rules well incorporated into itself. Hence GRC, SIEM, and other helpdesk systems are also necessitated to implement them to collaborate many teams into one cyber security group. These systems help in the automation of tasks making them easier, especially to send alerts in times of vulnerability emergencies. It further helps to take prompt corrective actions and prevent critical mishaps.


9. Increased focus on Red Teaming

More and more organizations are preferring red teaming as of now - and this trend will see growth this year as well. Simulating realistic cyber onslaughts helps to offer better clarity on security posture, incident response, and detection capabilities.


10. Exploring Human Factors

Pentesting has moved beyond cyber shortcomings and is now stretching into the area of human faculty. This welcome shift has ushered in the trend of social engineering analysis in the coming times. That allows organizations to discover problems in employee awareness, training, and areas of manipulation.

Conclusion

With cyber crimes grabbing the headlines every now and then, penetration testing is a must to ensure a cyber-safe infrastructure. Rising demand for penetration testing has eventually staggered the need for a growing number of penetration testers. In other words, penetration testing is coming up in a big way as a promising career. If you are aspiring to be a pentester, consider a penetration testing certification course in india that offers practical training and internship opportunities.

Q1: What is the future of pentesting as a career in India?

Ans: Pentesting is coming up as one of the prominent cyber security careers with financial and professional security, innovative growth, and international exposure.


Q2: What is the average salary of a pentester in India?

Ans: On an average the monthly and yearly salary of a pentester in India is Rs 71.8 k and 8.6 Lakhs respectively.


Q3: Which are the sectors where pentesting is most popular?

Ans: The areas where pentesters are hired the most are cybersecurity firms, IT consulting companies, government agencies, financial institutions and technology based institutions.


Q4: Where to learn pentesting in India?

Ans: There are government as well as autonomous institutions which teach penetration testing certification course in India.