If you were to glance at the current statistics for electronic and mobile commerce, you would be staggered at the level of growth across both markets. An estimated 40% of global Internet users have purchased products online through either desktop, mobile or tablet devices, for example, which equates to a staggering one billion online buyers. This will grow exponentially in the next five years, as a growing consumer demographic shop solely online.
From a mobile perspective, the growth of m-commerce represents a similarly exciting trend in the market. M-commerce revenue accounted to more than $38 billion dollars in the U.S. alone during 2013, for example, and this is likely to exceed $50 billion by the year 2020. This trend will also be replicated around the world, creating a huge demand for electronic payment solutions and secure websites.
3 Reasons to Invest in Penetration Testing
While this creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs, it also poses a significant challenge. The need for a secure website and IT infrastructure cannot be ignored, as this will place sensitive customer data and the integrity of your business reputation at risk. This is not to mention the potential cost of correcting security breaches, which can seriously undermine business growth.
To negate these risks, you should look to invest in penetration testing. This is where you partner with an industry expert to test your IT infrastructure in a controlled environment, as you evaluate everything from operating systems to individual applications for potential security faults. This process is more important and in-demand than ever 2015, for the following reasons: –
1. App Store Optimisation is becoming Increasingly Prevalent
As the mobile application sector has evolved, so too has its importance among online business owners. Apps are increasingly used as an entry point into a relationship between businesses and customers, which may see the exchange of personal data or sensitive information. When you also consider that there are an estimated 1.55 million apps in the Google Play Store alone, it makes perfect sense for business-owners to use app store optimisation to further promote their brand. By evaluating the security of your business applications through penetration testing, you can safeguard the integrity of consumer data on multiple levels.
2. Billions of pounds are spent online by Customers every single year
We have already touched on the lucrative nature of electronic and mobile commerce, and this has triggered the development of multiple electronic payment platforms. This evolution reached a major stage last year, when the rate of electronic payments (52%) outstripped those made through cash for the very first time (48%). With higher volumes being spent online each year, websites have a duty to provide a safe environment where financial transactions and customer data is protected at all times. Penetration testing can play a huge part in ensuring this, as it uses modern hacking techniques to test business websites in a controlled and simulated environment.
3. It is no longer Possible to Safeguard Data all of the Time
Historically, business-owners attempted to prevent data breaches by installing multiple layers of defensive security including cryptography, firewalls and IPS. Thanks to the continued adaptation of new technologies, however, businesses have created a complex security network that makes it harder to identify and correct potential vulnerabilities. With the techniques used by hackers becoming increasingly sophisticated, it is crucial that organisations instead rely on regular penetration testing to identify real-time security issues and initiate required updates. Without this, your IT infrastructure can quickly become overrun by data glitches and significant security breaches.