Small budgets, big attack surfaces, and a shrinking pool of experienced testers make cybersecurity harder — not easier — for most organizations. At LightningSec we believe the future of practical, affordable security is autonomous: repeatable, fast, inexpensive penetration tests powered by modern automation and validated by human experts. Recent academic evidence helps explain why automation is already reshaping firms’ hiring and work patterns — and why a responsible, productized approach to automated pen testing is the right answer for many organizations today. 

When it comes to cybersecurity, the old saying “time is money” takes on a more dangerous meaning: time is risk. Every day, new vulnerabilities are disclosed—sometimes as zero-days, but more often as N-days, where attackers weaponize a known flaw within hours of public release. In this environment, speed and agility are no longer luxuries—they’re necessities.

When news broke that investigators found no evidence of zero‑day vulnerabilities in the Salt Typhoon cyberattacks on telecom networks, the world’s cyber‑defenders breathed a collective sigh of relief. Yet while no brand‑new, unknown holes were exploited, the real story here is how known vulnerabilities, left unpatched and lying in wait, become the easiest path for attackers. This revelation should refocus our security strategies on automated vulnerability scanning as a proactive defense—not just reactive patching.

If your managed service provider (MSP) is also responsible for conducting your security assessments, you may want to take a closer look at who’s holding them accountable.

Cyber insurance is a smart way to manage risk—but it’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card. In fact, many policies are full of exclusions and contingencies that could leave your business exposed if you haven’t taken reasonable steps to secure your environment. One of the most effective ways to demonstrate those steps? A penetration test.

A penetration test simulates real-world attacks to uncover weaknesses before bad actors do. It goes beyond checkboxes and evaluates your defenses the way an attacker would.

Autonomous penetration testing uses smart automation—guided by cybersecurity experts—to simulate real-world cyberattacks on your systems. Instead of waiting weeks for a human tester to manually work through a checklist, you get fast, consistent results that uncover real risks.