CISOs Prioritize Pentesting in Security Strategy
▼ Summary
– Security leaders are increasingly concerned about risks from third-party software and generative AI, with 68% worried about third-party components and 60% admitting attackers evolve too fast for resilience.
– Compliance and actual security are in tension, with leaders calling for stronger controls, faster remediation, and better visibility into AI risks, viewing cybersecurity as a strategic business issue.
– Third-party tools remain the top security concern, but generative AI is rising, with 68% of leaders saying their boards prioritize secure AI deployment and 32% of AI apps showing high-risk vulnerabilities.
– Software supply chain complexity is a major issue, with 73% of executives reporting supply chain vulnerabilities and 83% facing formal vendor security requirements, including pentesting and reporting.
– Penetration testing is now vital, with 88% of leaders considering it core to security programs, 49% using it for supply chain risks, and many embedding it in vendor agreements and AI system evaluations.
Cybersecurity leaders are shifting priorities as digital ecosystems grow more complex, with penetration testing emerging as a critical defense mechanism. A recent industry survey reveals that 68% of security executives express significant concerns about risks stemming from third-party software integrations. While regulatory compliance remains achievable for most organizations, 60% acknowledge their defenses struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats.
The findings highlight a widening gap between checklist-driven compliance and real-world security effectiveness. Security teams increasingly view cyber resilience as a strategic business imperative, demanding tighter controls, faster vulnerability remediation, and deeper visibility, especially regarding AI-related risks.
Third-party dependencies continue to dominate risk assessments, but generative AI is quickly climbing the list of top concerns. Nearly half of surveyed leaders report unease about AI-powered features and large language models. Boardrooms are taking notice too, 68% confirm their leadership now prioritizes secure AI deployment as a business-critical objective.
These concerns are grounded in hard data. Recent penetration tests targeting AI applications uncovered high-risk vulnerabilities in 32% of cases, outpacing traditional systems in severity. Surprisingly, the flaws weren’t AI-specific but familiar weaknesses like SQL injection and cross-site scripting, underscoring the need for foundational security practices.
Software supply chain complexity further compounds the challenge. Modern enterprises blend proprietary code, open-source components, and external services, creating sprawling attack surfaces. 73% of executives received alerts about supply chain incidents in the past year, prompting 83% to mandate vendor security assessments. More than half now require suppliers to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability disclosures.
This rigor isn’t just about risk mitigation, it’s becoming a competitive differentiator. 74% of security leaders believe documented pentesting strengthens client trust and influences procurement decisions.
No longer a perfunctory exercise, penetration testing has become central to security programs, with 88% of organizations deeming it essential. Over half leverage pentests to validate in-house software, while an equal proportion demand third-party testing before customer releases.
The practice is expanding beyond traditional use cases: 49% plan to apply pentesting to supply chain vulnerabilities, and 44% will use it to detect insider threats. Integration across development pipelines and procurement workflows reflects its growing strategic role.
Generative AI introduces unprecedented risks, with 66% of respondents noting its potential to help attackers bypass defenses. Over half fear AI could automate end-to-end attacks, while 62% worry AI development tools might inject hidden vulnerabilities.
Data integrity sits at the heart of these anxieties. 44% rank model poisoning and IP theft as top AI risks, alongside training data leaks, unauthorized tool usage, and biased outputs. Despite AI’s novelty, the root issues echo longstanding security gaps.
Demand is surging for AI-specific safeguards. More than half of teams seek tools to pre-screen AI systems before deployment and guidance on defensive AI applications. 48% call for frameworks to counter AI-driven attacks, warning that unchecked innovation could jeopardize long-term security and brand equity.
The findings signal a broader shift toward offensive security postures. CISOs are embedding pentesting into vendor contracts and subjecting AI systems to the same scrutiny as conventional infrastructure. As one recommendation stresses: “Treat penetration testing as mandatory, from procurement to production, across every phase of the software lifecycle.”
(Source: HelpNet Security)
