Annual Pentest? Done. How Proactive Security Covers the Other 50 Weeks in a Year
Hear straight from NetSPI’s CEO Aaron Shilts and our new EVP of Strategy Tim MalcomVetter as they discuss a range of proactive security topics. Tim’s extensive background as a security analyst, pentester, director of Red Team, and chief technology officer for leading global companies brings a wealth of insights to the table. With a track record of hacking diverse systems, from mainframes to APIs to mobile and IoT devices, Tim offers a unique perspective on the evolution of proactive security measures.
Read on for the highlights or watch the webinar for the full conversation.
What is Proactive Security?
Tim explains that in terms of proactive security, the approach involves considering the continuity beyond isolated engagements, such as performing an external penetration test. Given that a penetration testing engagement typically lasts for a few days to a couple weeks, the question arises: What measures are in place during the remaining 50 weeks of the year?
With your attack surface expanding and the perimeter continually evolving, your security controls face relentless scrutiny. Gaining insight into external-facing assets, vulnerabilities, and exposures presents a noisy and time-consuming challenge for security teams. Furthermore, even upon identifying validated vulnerabilities, ensuring that your security stack effectively detects and mitigates them poses another hurdle.
External pentesters have a knack for identifying anomalies that might otherwise go unnoticed. Seizing such opportunities becomes pivotal, as these anomalies could potentially lead to breaches. Therefore, the focus with proactive security lies in outpacing cyber threats. The relentless nature of SOC work underscores the need for constant vigilance. The objective is to streamline this mindset, ensuring that critical issues are promptly addressed to optimize efficiency and minimize time waste.
You may find yourself considering these common questions about your organization’s security stance:
- Where are my vulnerabilities?
- Can I maintain continuous awareness of them?
- What aspects can I monitor effectively, and is my team equipped to respond promptly?
These are key questions to surface internally to help define a path forward toward proactive security.
Watch the Q&A on Proactive Security
Watch the full webinar with Aaron and Tim!
Tim’s impressive background in various security roles, coupled with his extensive experience in hacking diverse systems, adds depth and expertise to the discussion. Take the next step in enhancing your organization’s security posture by contacting NetSPI for a consultation.

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