10 Ways That Data Visualization Strengthens Security

Data visualization: what is it, and how–when used right–can it be used to quickly and effectively strengthen your organization’s security posture?

Today, the team of ethical hackers here at Packetlabs are outlining the power of data visualization, why comprehensive data visualization options should be one of your top priorities when choosing a PTaaS provider, and 10 reasons why you should be looking to unlock its cybersecurity capabilities ASAP.

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is defined as the graphical embodiment of information and data–think visual elements like graphs or charts. It is a method of data analysis used by employees, business owners, and other key stakeholders to both present and understand information to audiences who may have a non-technical background.

Common tools used for visualizing data include, but aren’t limited to:

• Heat maps

• Graphs (dual-axis, line, and bar)

• Charts

• Histograms

• PowerPoints

• Scatter plots

• And spreadsheets

Some organizations may also invest in paid tools to help generate these visuals, such as Office Suite or Zoho Analytics.

But why expend this extra time, money, and effort into auto-visualizing data that may or may not be accurate? With a PTaaS provider that offers data visualization (or methodologies that use data visualization on the backend), you guarantee that you're not just receiving actionable remediation steps: you're also understanding the how and why behind each and every expert recommendation.

The Benefits of Data Visualization in Cybersecurity

Here are just some of the benefits of data visualization when it comes to your organization’s security posture:

#1: Simplify Data Organization

What if your organization could make fast, data-driven decisions without having to spend excess time and money sifting through raw data?

Whether you are arranging data into accurate, interpretable formats for the first time or the fiftieth time, data visualization pulls double-duty by not just automatically sorting collected data–it also ensures that all stakeholders can, at a glance, understand and weigh in on key performance indicators.

With 65% of the globe’s population being deemed visual learners, opting for reports that include visuals (or take their main findings from data-related visuals) ensures that findings can be interpreted quickly and accurately.

#2: Quicken Decision-Making

The faster cyber threats are detected, the faster cybersecurity professionals can protect against potential breaches.

At Packetlabs, our qualified team utilizes data visualization as one of our many tools to pinpoint security posture weaknesses. From there, we offer in-depth remediation recommendations that go beyond the checkbox. 

This even extends to our penetration testing buyer’s guide, which has distilled key data and cybersecurity trends into walkthroughs on:

• The benefits of penetration testing

• The role pentesting plays in cyber insurance renewals

• Penetration testing frameworks, methods, and standards

• Pentesting factors that may influence cost

• What to ask a PTaaS

• And our comprehensive pentesting reporting options (PTaaS vs. traditional)

By having data visuals in our ethical hackers’ arsenals, we guarantee that decision-making isn’t just quick on our end–it’s quick on yours, exactly when it matters most.

#3: Detect Cyber Risks

How at risk is your organization this year vs. last year?

When simply looking at the numbers, increasing statistics may not look alarming… but, when put into perspective, you could find that these vulnerabilities are increasing by an alarming rate.

With business-related ransomware payouts jumping a staggering 83% since 2020 (and continuing to skyrocket by the year), detecting cyber risks early–and using early detection to remedy vulnerabilities in your systems or apps–is the most effective way of saving yourself from costly future repairs.

#4: Share Information Easily

Since over 60% of workers either want to be fully remote or are already working from home, the ability to easily share information across different departments has never been more crucial.

The industries of law, healthcare, government, education, energy, technology, finance, and ecommerce were some of the most influenced by this change in work style; and, while some organizations may be adjusting as this percentage continues to climb, it’s vital that information continues to be reliably tracked and shared.

When done right, data visualization can help technical and non-technical departments alike weigh in on existing and future cybersecurity efforts.

#5: Assist With Forensic Analysis

As a PTaaS provider, we use data visuals to contextualize our forensic analysis and incorporate them into our threat prevention processes.

Key findings are extracted and inputted into all client reports. Our client Adam B., Vice President of Engineering at his organization, said this about our forensic analysis and remediation opportunities: “During the test, the engineer assigned to our case would notify us of any high-priority findings with detailed explanations of the risks right away. They were also quickly responsive to our emails during the test.”

Charlene, the owner of an SMB, weighed in with a similar testimonial: “The result report was easy to follow and insightful, with recommendations on risk exposure and remediation. We would definitely recommend working with Packetlabs in the future.”

The takeaway? That, no matter what role you hold in your organization, digestible data is essential when it comes to forensic analysis–and it works to cement the monetary value of investing in it.

#6: Encourage the Exploration of Trends

If your industry was at risk of a specific kind of breach, wouldn’t you want to be informed?

With data visualization, new types of cybersecurity threats have been revealed year-after-year, such as mobile endpoint security being at specific risk in 2023 and beyond. When findings can be viewed side-by-side, experts can then dive into concerning trends or predictions that the data are pointing towards–like, in this case, the uptick of remote workers resulting in significant cybersecurity breaches using their mobile devices as an entry point.

By pinpointing correlations like these, ethical hackers and others in the cybersecurity industry are given the opportunity to circumvent security emergencies before they occur by suggesting preemptive measures.

#7: Shorten Your Response Time

How fast is your or your Managed Service Provider’s response time when it comes to data breaches?

Since 2020, the average Mean Time to Identify (MTTI) and Mean Time to Contain (MTTC) are 228 days and 80 days, respectively. That’s–on average–308 days that threat actors have to wreak colossal financial, reputational, and data-related damages on your organization.

When partnering with a pentesting service provider that incorporates data visualization into their reporting system, you thereby shorten your data breach response time by ensuring that unusual activity is detected ASAP (rather than having to sift through sometimes years’ worth of written data.)

#8: Monitor Data Volumes

In the modern-day remote or hybrid work environment, monitoring data volumes (namely, what employees or accessing, downloading, or sending on corporate devices and networks) is non-negotiable when it comes to preventing cyberattacks.

This data helps IT teams know:

• The most common types of files being shared, downloaded, or accessed

• What is likely slowing down networking traffic

• What potential malware or ransomware the organization is most vulnerable to

In our compromise assessment, we also incorporate the review of system logs, directories, and system configurations to get a full picture of your organization’s risk level.

#9: Help With Employee Education

Regardless of whether an employee has been working from home for weeks or years, consistent employee education is key when it comes to keeping on top of cyber hygiene.

Employee security awareness training offers the opportunity to:

• Reduce cyberattacks through employee awareness

• Help employees more accurately identify scams

• Build a strong internal cybersecurity force

• Boost employee morale

• And familiarize your departments with compliance

Data visualization is a surefire way to ensure that all employees are understanding key takeaways.

#10: Prevent Third-Party Network Attempts

By identifying, monitoring, and visualizing both the frequency and the length of third parties accessing your organization’s network, you’ll be given the opportunity to better detect potential breaches.

In our application security testing services alone, our team follows a 200+ line-item checklist that surpasses line industry standards. From there, we can create a mapping system that displays all the primary access points that both vendors and partners can see the significance of regardless of if they have a technical background.

This tactic also extends to helping circumvent other common threats such as, but not limited to, zero-day attacks, swarm attacks, phishing, and cloud breaches.

Cybersecurity Data Visualization

So why opt for a pentesting service provider that touts data visualization as part of their offerings?

The ability to easily visualize key cybersecurity findings results in the opportunity to:

• Organize data into recognizable contexts, patterns, and general formats

• Save your organization time analyzing data or detecting missing data points

• Take more decisive action in protecting your data

• Explore trends to mitigate future risks

• Prompt employee security awareness training

• Share digestible information across all sectors

• And strengthen your organization’s security posture

At Packetlabs, we’re passionate about your wins. That includes a 95% manual testing methodology, a commitment to producing actionable remediation options, and guaranteeing that you understand our findings in a way that keeps the needle moving on your cybersecurity efforts.

Instead of spending extra time, money, and effort into investing in a separate data visualization tool for cybersecurity that may or may not align with your existing softwares, turn to our ethical hackers instead for data that has already been broken down into its most actionable state. Together, we work with SMBs and Managed Service Providers alike to keep your digital spaces safe.

Conclusion

Our cybersecurity solutions orbit around one common goal: to strengthen your security posture.

Get your free, zero-obligation quote to see first-hand how comprehensive data reporting will change your cybersecurity practices for the better.