The Pros and Cons of Crowdsourced Penetration Testing – Is It Right for Your Organisation?

By Michael Aguilera, Lead Penetration Tester, Razorthorn Security

Over the past decade, crowdsourced penetration testing has grown in popularity because of its convenience and cost effectiveness. However, this surge in popularity does not come without its caveats. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits and risks of crowdsourced penetration testing, compare it with traditional methods and help you make an informed decision for your organisation’s cybersecurity needs.

The Rise of Crowdsourced Penetration Testing

Crowdsourced penetration testing has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional methods so before we discuss the risks, let’s first look at the benefits that have fuelled the growth of crowdsourced penetration testing.

Benefits of Crowdsourced Penetration Testing

Rapid Deployment

The primary advantage of crowdsourced platforms is the ease of mobilising a group of testers quickly to meet urgent security assessment needs, which can be challenging using traditional testing methods that require notice and planning to conduct assessments.

Diverse Talent Pool

Crowdsourced platforms tap into a diverse talent pool, bringing varied perspectives and skills to the table. However, this can be a double edged sword as the range of skills available at any one time may not always align with specific, high-level expertise required for more demanding or niche assignments.

Cost Effectiveness

For organisations with budget constraints, crowdsourced testing often presents a more affordable option compared to engaging a traditional penetration testing firm.

The Flip Side: Limitations and Risks of Crowdsourced Penetration Testing

While crowdsourced penetration testing offers several advantages, it’s crucial to consider its limitations and potential risks.

Limited versatility

Crowdsourcing platforms often struggle with vetting testers for specialised tasks. There’s often a lack of expertise in areas beyond external facing assets, which can be problematic for organisations with complex internal systems or unique technological environments.

Inconsistent quality

The diverse range of testers means that capabilities are not guaranteed. Maintaining consistent quality across different tests can be challenging, potentially leading to gaps in security assessments.

Data protection and confidentiality

The pool of penetration testers stretches worldwide, which introduces significant challenges in data protection and confidentiality. This global distribution can conflict with regulations and raise concerns about the handling of sensitive information.

Operational risks

With most penetration tests, there are some risks. Networks can slow down or even experience outages during testing, especially if the testers are not aware of the operational nuances of the environment they are assessing. This risk is heightened in crowdsourced models where testers may lack familiarity with the specific organisation’s infrastructure.

Quality control challenge

Quality control when crowdsourcing can also be an issue due to the diverse group of testers who have varying levels of expertise and methodologies. Vetting and selecting testers with the required experience and understanding of the specific environment they will assess is extremely important. By crowdsourcing your penetration testers, maintaining a consistent level of quality and expertise can be challenging.

The Traditional Approach: Strengths and Challenges

Traditional penetration testing services offer a more structured and controlled approach. Let’s explore their advantages and potential drawbacks.

Advantages of Traditional Penetration Testing

Consistency and reliability

Traditional services offer a level of consistency often missing in crowdsourced models. From communicating with the same testers, to ensuring a thorough understanding of the client’s environment, a traditional service provide a more reliable experience.

Specialised Expertise

Engaging with a dedicated team of professionals allows for deeper dives into specialised areas, such as internal network security, code reviews and assessments of complex systems like IoT devices or enterprise applications.

Tailored approach

Traditional testing can be more easily customised to an organisation’s specific needs, risk profile and compliance requirements.

Challenges of Traditional Penetration Testing

Time intensive

Traditional penetration testing can be more time consuming compared to crowdsourced alternatives due to the need for meticulous planning, scheduling and coordination between the client and the testing team. However, it’s both a pro and con, as the thoroughness and depth of traditional testing can uncover vulnerabilities that might be missed in a more rapid, crowdsourced approach.

Higher cost

The depth and thoroughness of traditional testing often come with higher price tags, which can be a barrier for smaller organisations or those with limited security budgets.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Organisation

The comparison between crowdsourced and traditional penetration testing is not just a matter of speed versus thoroughness. It also involves weighing the trade offs between flexibility and control, cost and quality, as well as breadth and depth of expertise.

Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses and the optimal choice often depends on the specific needs and risk profile of the organisation. Factors to consider include:

• The complexity of your IT infrastructure
• Your organisation’s risk tolerance
• Compliance requirements
• Budget constraints
• The sensitivity of your data

Ultimately, many organisations find that a hybrid approach, leveraging both crowdsourced and traditional methods at different stages or for different aspects of their security assessment, provides coverage that aligns with the points above.

As you evaluate your options, consider consulting with cybersecurity experts who can help you design a testing strategy that aligns with your organisation’s needs and goals. The main point to remember is to remain vigilant and adaptable to continuously improve your security posture.

For any assistance you might need with penetration testing, get in touch – we’d be happy to help.