Penetration Testing Compliance Standards

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Comprehensive penetration testing to protect your business and meet global compliance standards

Why Penetration Testing is Essential

Customer-facing web applications—such as e-commerce platforms, client portals, and online banking systems—are critical to your business but are potentially vulnerable to cyberattacks. Penetration testing simulates real-world cyber attacks to uncover vulnerabilities like SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and misconfigurations before hackers exploit them. With data breaches costing an average of $4.45 million in 2023 (IBM), regular penetration testing strengthens your defenses, protects sensitive data, and ensures compliance with stringent regulations. We help you stay ahead of cybersecurity threats and meet these important industry standards.

What makes Raxis Different?

In today’s saturated penetration testing market, many vendors are cutting corners to offer low-cost, bare-bones services—that we call “checkbox pentests.” These superficial assessments check some of the boxes for compliance but leave your organization dangerously exposed. By omitting critical techniques like pivoting across systems, exfiltrating sensitive data, and rigorously testing network segmentation, these tests fail to meet industry standards and fall far short of revealing your true cybersecurity risks.

A penetration test is inherently subjective, requiring expertise, creativity, and thoroughness to simulate real-world attacks. Skimping on key elements undermines the entire process, providing a false sense of security that could cost your organization dearly. In contrast, Raxis delivers comprehensive penetration testing that goes beyond compliance to uncover hidden vulnerabilities and demonstrate the impact of sophisticated threats. Our expert team employs advanced methodologies to stress-test your defenses, ensuring you gain actionable insights to fortify your security posture. If you must conduct a penetration test, make it count with thorough, expert execution.

Raxis Penetration Testing Meets Compliance Standards

Penetration testing is a critical requirement or recommended practice for numerous regulations and standards. Below, we outline key frameworks and how Raxis aligns our penetration testing to help you achieve compliance and secure your web applications.

PCI DSS 4.0 (2022)

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandates penetration testing for systems handling cardholder data. Requirement 11.3 (Section 11.3.1 and 11.3.2) requires annual testing and after significant changes, while Requirement 11.3.4 specifically targets web applications to validate segmentation and identify vulnerabilities like SQL Injection and XSS. Non-compliance risks fines and loss of payment processing capabilities.

GLBA Safeguards Rule (2023)

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule, under 16 CFR § 314.4(c)(3), requires financial institutions to conduct annual penetration testing or continuous monitoring to protect nonpublic personal information (NPI). Testing after significant changes is also mandated. Web applications handling NPI, like online banking portals, must be tested to prevent data exposure.

GDPR (2018)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires “appropriate technical and organizational measures” to secure personal data (Article 32(1)). While not explicitly mandating penetration testing, Recital 49 and Article 35(7) (Data Protection Impact Assessments) imply testing for high-risk web applications. Non-compliance can lead to fines up to 4% of annual global revenue.

HIPAA Security Rule (2003, amended)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule requires risk analysis (45 CFR § 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)) and periodic technical evaluations (45 CFR § 164.308(a)(8)). Penetration testing of web applications handling electronic protected health information (ePHI) is a best practice to meet 45 CFR § 164.312(a)(1) access control requirements, reducing breach risks.

CCPA/CPRA (2020/2023)

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), mandates “reasonable security procedures” (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.150). CPRA’s risk assessments (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.185(a)(15)) often include penetration testing for web applications handling personal information, helping avoid consumer lawsuits and fines.

New York SHIELD Act (2019)

The Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act requires “reasonable safeguards” (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 899-bb), including regular testing of security systems (23 NYCRR § 520.3). Penetration testing of web applications ensures protection of New York residents’ private information, mitigating breach notification obligations.

Massachusetts Data Security Regulation (2010)

Under 201 CMR 17.03(2)(f), businesses must conduct “regular monitoring” and testing of security systems handling Massachusetts residents’ personal information. Penetration testing of web applications is a best practice to ensure compliance and protect against data breaches.

FTC Act – Section 5

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces “reasonable” security under 15 U.S.C. § 45(a). FTC’s *Start with Security* guide recommends penetration testing to protect consumer data in web applications. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions, as seen in cases like Equifax (2017).

ISO/IEC 27001:2022

The international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) recommends penetration testing (Annex A.12.6.1) and regular security reviews (Annex A.18.2.1). Testing web applications ensures vulnerabilities are addressed, supporting certification for industries like tech and finance.

NIST SP 800-115

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s SP 800-115 (Section 4.2) provides guidelines for penetration testing, including web applications, for federal systems under FISMA. It’s also used in healthcare and finance to align with HIPAA and FedRAMP, ensuring robust security.

SOC 2

System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) requires ongoing evaluations (CC4.1) and vulnerability management (CC7.1). Penetration testing of web applications validates security controls for SaaS providers, ensuring compliance with trust services criteria.

OWASP Testing Guide

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Testing Guide (Version 4.2, Section 4) provides methodologies for web application testing, targeting vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL Injection. It’s a global standard for ensuring secure web development and compliance with PCI DSS and SOC 2.

PTES

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES, Section 3) outlines seven phases for testing, including web applications. Its structured approach ensures comprehensive assessments, aligning with enterprise needs for ISO 27001 and NIST compliance.

OSSTMM

The Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM 3, Section 2.4) uses a scientific approach to test web applications and other assets. It quantifies risks, supporting compliance with ISO 27001 and critical infrastructure standards.

CMMC 2.0 (2021)

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requires penetration testing for Level 3 and above (Practice SI.3.218) to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) in DoD contractor web applications, ensuring resilience against advanced threats.

FINRA Cybersecurity Guidelines

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recommends penetration testing (Report on Cybersecurity Practices, Section 4.2) for broker-dealers to secure web applications like trading platforms, protecting investor data and avoiding regulatory scrutiny.

Non-compliance with these penetration testing standards can lead to significant fines, legal liabilities, and reputational damage. Raxis expert penetration testing services ensures your web applications meet or exceed these requirements, keeping your business secure and compliant.