It happened on a Sunday. Our tech team was off. I got an SMS from AWS: “Unusual login detected from Kazakhstan.” I thought it was a false positive. An hour later, our dev staging server was wiped clean.
We later found out a port was left open during our last deployment—and a simple vulnerability allowed remote access. No VAPT. No code review. No monitoring.
We assumed the firewall had us covered.
That’s when I learned the hard way: assumptions don’t protect your infrastructure. CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing does.
According to CERT-In, India reported 15.2 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2023. The scary part? Most of these could have been prevented with proper testing.
Let me show you how Prgenix helped us recover—and how you can shield your digital infrastructure before it’s too late.
Why CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing Matters?
1. It’s Not Just About Bugs—It’s About Business Continuity
A data breach doesn’t just expose passwords—it kills credibility.
Whether you’re building a SaaS, handling payment gateways, or integrating with a government API, you’re a prime target. CERT-In mandates that certain organizations (especially in BFSI, health-tech, and infra-tech) undergo security audits only from CERT-In empanelled auditors.
Failure to comply can lead to:
- Disqualification from public tenders
- Breach of data protection norms under the IT Act & DPDP Act
- Hefty fines and reputational damage
2. Why “Approved” Makes All the Difference
Anyone can run a scan and call it a “penetration test.” But CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing means:
- The audit is conducted by CERT-In empanelled security professionals
- The testing methodology aligns with government cybersecurity protocols
- The final report is legally admissible for compliance documentation
It’s the gold standard for proving you’re secure and compliant.
3. Penetration Testing vs. Vulnerability Scanning: Know the Difference
Think of it like checking your car:
- Vulnerability Scanning is like a dashboard warning system—automated alerts
- Penetration Testing is your mechanic trying to break it, intentionally
CERT-In Approved PT goes deep:
- Business logic testing
- Real-world attack simulations
- Exploiting misconfigurations
- API-level fuzzing and injection
- Cloud IAM role abuse attempts
How Prgenix Delivers CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing?
Step 1: Discovery & Scope Definition
We begin by identifying:
- What you want to test (web apps, APIs, cloud, mobile apps)
- How critical the assets are
- What the compliance goals are (Govt tender, investor audit, DPDP)
This phase sets your threat map and testing blueprint.
Step 2: Real-World Penetration Testing
We use a hybrid model—automated tools + manual attacks.
Some tools we use:
- Burp Suite Pro
- OWASP ZAP
- Nessus
- Acunetix
- Nikto
- Custom shell scripts
Manual testing covers:
- Session hijacking
- Broken access control
- Data injection (SQLi, NoSQLi, XML)
- IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference)
- Privilege escalation
We also simulate insider threats and business logic abuse—things automation misses.
Step 3: Reporting + Fixing (The Prgenix Advantage)
Our report isn’t just a data dump. It’s designed for:
- CXOs (1-page executive summary)
- Developers (root cause analysis + code samples)
- Regulators (mapped to CVSS + CERT-In controls)
We also:
- Help you prioritize fixes
- Guide developers with code-level recommendations
- Run a free retest after fixes
Step 4: CERT-In Audit Submission & Approval
Once you’re clean:
- We connect you with our empanelled CERT-In partners
- They review our VAPT results
- Conduct final verification
- Issue your official CERT-In Approved Penetration Test Certificate
Case Study: How a Pune Fintech Scaled Securely?
Company: B2B lending platform
Problem: Flagged for poor cybersecurity in investor due diligence
Engagement: 14-day CERT-In approved PT via Prgenix
Findings:
- API token leakage in logs
- Unauthenticated admin endpoint
- No 2FA in critical modules
Fixes Deployed:
- Encrypted logging
- Role-based endpoint access
- OTP-based 2FA via Twilio
Outcome:
- Cleared $4M funding round
- Partnered with 3 PSU banks
- Listed in MeitY sandbox for fintech pilot
How to Prepare for CERT-In Penetration Testing?
1. Clean Your Code Before You Test
Run your own scan using tools like SonarQube or Snyk. Clean up deprecated packages, commented-out credentials, or exposed endpoints.
2. Inventory Everything
You’d be surprised how many businesses forget to list subdomains or old staging servers. Those are often entry points.
3. Involve DevOps & Developers Early
Security isn’t IT’s job alone. Involve your devs from day one so fixes aren’t blocked by lack of clarity.
4. Schedule Regular Retests
Even after certification, do it every 6 months. New features = new threats. Hackers evolve—so should your tests.
FAQs: People Also Ask
1. Who is authorized to conduct CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing?
Only CERT-In empanelled vendors listed on cert-in. Prgenix partners with multiple such approved providers.
2. Is this required for startups?
If you’re applying for GovTech onboarding, bidding for tenders, or working with critical APIs (e.g., NPCI, ABDM), it’s a hard requirement.
3. How long does a full penetration test take?
Typical timelines:
- Web app only: 5–7 days
- Web + API: 10–12 days
- Full-stack (cloud, app, API): 15–18 days
4. What if I fail the penetration test?
You receive a report outlining the issues. With Prgenix, we assist with remediation and retesting at no extra cost.
5. How much does CERT-In Approved PT cost?
Starts at ₹65,000 for basic scope. Larger infrastructures with cloud and mobile assets can go ₹2–5L. We provide free scoping.
Penetration Testing Isn’t Paranoia—It’s Preparation
Hackers don’t care about your industry—they care about opportunity.
And in a world where everything’s connected, CERT-In Approved Penetration Testing is the only thing standing between you and the next big breach.
I learned it the hard way. But you don’t have to.
Partner with Prgenix, get certified, and sleep better knowing your systems are battle-tested.
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