Why is being CREST accredited so important?

For penetration vulnerability testing to be credible and trusted, clear guidelines and methodologies must be followed. In the early days of penetration testing, this clarity was lacking, often leading to variable results that hampered trust in the process.

The CREST accreditation has been developed to provide clarity and strengthen trust in Cyber Security measures and best practice for penetration testing.

What is CREST and why does it exist?

CREST stands for the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers. It is a not-for-profit accreditation body that was set up to establish strong professional standards for penetration testers. CREST accredited companies have achieved a range of compliance elements leading to them being recognised as offering Cyber Security services of the highest standards.

The organisation now has over 380 member companies globally, as well as thousands of Cyber Security professionals. The organisation works with governments as well as Cyber Security regulators, developing initiatives to drive up standards across the industry.

Certified by CREST and Offensive Security, our qualified testers employ real-world hacking techniques to uncover profound insights.

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Whether you’re a CISO, IT Director, or business owner, Equilibrium has the expertise to help you develop and implement your security strategy.

Why is CREST accreditation important?

A CREST accreditation ensures that any testing or Cyber Security services will be carried out to the highest technical, legal, and ethical standards. CREST accredited services follow a range of best practices when carrying out Cyber Security tasks, such as penetration testing.

Companies that achieve a CREST accreditation can demonstrate high degrees of competence and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. CREST accredited penetration testers can guarantee the security of a company’s systems and the preparedness of technical staff to meet Cyber Security challenges.

Registered penetration testers can provide solutions that are personalised to the Cyber Security needs of each company. This includes testing the infrastructure security of your company’s systems, testing and validating the readiness of a company’s technical security staff, as well as investigating potential Cyber Security vulnerabilities.

Octopus providing a cyber threat

Why businesses should work with CREST accredited Cyber Security Companies

If you’re looking to ensure that your company is protected against evolving digital challenges, then it’s essential that your security posture is professionally tested. Working with a CREST accredited Cyber Security company gives you valuable reassurance that the testing process will be carried out effectively.

The CREST certification ensures that testing will be carried out with the highest legal, ethical and technical standards in mind. Companies that are CREST certified follow best practices when it comes to key areas during a penetration test such as surveillance, scanning, gaining access and maintaining access.

Are there benefits to remote penetration testing?

Remote penetration testing allows organisations to access leading Cyber Security expertise wherever they are located while reducing the need for an on-site presence that can be disruptive as well as more expensive. Remote testing is easier to schedule and can be conducted without disrupting day-to-day operations.

Remote penetration testing is better able to simulate potent real-world security scenarios, providing valuable insights into how external threats may compromise an organisation’s systems.

How is CREST accreditation achieved?

Companies and organisations must meet four requirements to ensure that consistent service standards are delivered.

These standards relate to the company’s operating procedures and professional standards, personnel security and development, the approach taken to testing, and overall data protection.

Organisations can apply for membership across five key professional disciplines. These are:

  • Penetration Testing
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Intelligence-Led Penetration Testing (CREST STAR)
  • Threat Intelligence
    STAR-FS
  • Cyber Security Incident Response
  • SOC

CREST Accredited Penetration Testing

Equilibrium Security provides threat-led CREST Penetration Testing Services that go beyond tick-box security assessment. Our comprehensive services thoroughly test your digital infrastructure, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities that may be overlooked.

We provide practical recommendations, strategic guidance, and ongoing support, to empower you to make the right decisions for your security.

In a world of complex, evolving, digital threats, our CREST accredited services put you back in control.