Cybersecurity FAQ for Businesses – Frequently Asked Questions

An audit is worth conducting before implementing new systems, after major changes in the IT environment, following an incident, or as part of periodic security control. It is also a good solution for companies preparing for NIS2, DORA, KRI, ISO 27001, or other standards related to information security management.

A pentest allows you to verify which vulnerabilities can be exploited in practice and what impact they have on business security. This provides the company with specific information about weaknesses, repair priorities, and actions to mitigate risk. Testing is particularly worth conducting before application deployment, integration with an enterprise client, an audit, or meeting regulatory requirements.

Penetration testing is best conducted before launching a new application, after significant system changes, after cloud migration, or periodically as part of security management. A pentest is also advisable after implementing new features, integrating with external services, or when a client, business partner, or regulator expects confirmation of the security level.

Vulnerability scanning automatically detects known vulnerabilities in a system, application, or infrastructure. A pentest goes a step further by verifying whether detected weaknesses can be exploited in a controlled attack scenario. A scan provides a quick list of potential problems, while penetration testing shows their significance, impact on the company, and repair priority.

The type of test depends on the project objective and the level of information provided to testers. In the black box model, testers have minimal knowledge of the system; in grey box, they receive partial information; and in white box, they work with fuller access to documentation, configuration, or code. Pentests may cover web applications, APIs, mobile, infrastructure, cloud, Active Directory, Wi-Fi, or IoT systems.

Penetration testing typically focuses on a specified system, application, or infrastructure segment. Red Teaming assesses the broader resilience of a company against a realistic attack scenario, combining technical, social engineering, and organizational elements. The goal is not only to find vulnerabilities but also to verify whether the security team can detect an attack, respond, and mitigate its effects.

Social engineering tests verify how employees and procedures respond to attempts at manipulation, impersonation, or information extraction. They may include phishing campaigns, vishing, smishing, fake login pages, employee contact scenarios, or security awareness tests. Their purpose is to assess the company’s resilience against attacks exploiting the human factor.

The vCISO service is intended for companies that need expert support in cybersecurity but do not want to or cannot hire a full-time CISO. It works well in organizations developing security structures, preparing for an audit, implementing NIS2, expanding into new markets, or cooperating with enterprise clients.

Cooperation with vCISO begins with an assessment of the current security level, business needs, and regulatory requirements. Next, the scope of support, action priorities, and work schedule are established. vCISO can operate strategically, in an advisory capacity, or operationally, supporting management, IT department, compliance, and those responsible for information security.

vCISO can support the company in risk management, security policy creation, audit oversight, penetration testing planning, incident analysis, and preparing the organization for legal and industry requirements. The scope of responsibilities depends on client needs and may include both strategic consulting and ongoing coordination of security activities.

NIS2 applies to essential and important entities operating in sectors significant for the economy and state security. It may include energy, transport, healthcare, public administration, digital infrastructure, ICT services, water supply, banking, industry, food, or selected digital services. In Poland, the scope of obligations is defined by the KSC amendment.

Preparation for NIS2 should begin by verifying whether the organization is subject to new requirements, followed by conducting a gap analysis. The next step is risk assessment, organizing documentation, implementing security procedures, preparing an incident handling process, and planning periodic security verification. Audits, penetration testing, training, and vCISO support are also helpful.

NIS2 does not reduce cybersecurity solely to penetration testing but requires the application of appropriate technical, operational, and organizational measures for risk management. Pentests can be one element confirming that the organization regularly verifies the resilience of applications, systems, and infrastructure. In practice, they often support audits, risk analysis, and preparation for inspections.

NIS2 is a European Union directive that sets common cybersecurity requirements for member states. KSC, or the National Cybersecurity System, is Polish legislation implementing these obligations at the national level. In practice, NIS2 defines the direction and minimum requirements, while KSC specifies how they are to be applied by organizations operating in Poland.

OSINT is legal if it is based on publicly available information and is conducted in accordance with the law, source terms of service, and ethical principles. Analysis of open data should not include breaking security measures, bypassing access controls, or obtaining information in an unauthorized manner. In security projects, the scope of OSINT activities should be clearly defined before starting work.

Companies use OSINT to assess their own digital footprint, identify potential sources of information leakage, and verify what data can be used in an attack. Analysis can support security testing, Red Teaming, brand exposure assessment, protection of management personnel, and preparation for social engineering campaigns. This helps the organization better understand what is visible about it on the internet.

OPSEC is important because many attacks begin with analysis of publicly available information or accidentally disclosed by employees. Data about company structure, technologies, suppliers, projects, locations, or procedures can facilitate phishing, social engineering attacks, or preparation of a Red Team scenario. Good OPSEC practices help reduce such risk.

Implementing OPSEC should begin with identifying information that is particularly important for company security. Next, it is necessary to verify where such data may be disclosed, e.g., on social media, in documents, job postings, presentations, or repositories. The next step is to develop information publishing rules, train employees, and regularly monitor the digital footprint.

The most common OPSEC mistakes include publishing overly detailed information about technologies, projects, team structure, suppliers, locations, and procedures. Problems also include metadata in documents, uncontrolled social media posts, public code repositories, photos with visible identifiers or screens, and lack of rules regarding external information sharing.