Testing security parameters is sort of like making the decision to go to the dentist after years of no checkups and exams. You know you have to do it, but you're afraid of what the oral examination will reveal and the amount of pain you could be facing in the next few months of teeth repair. Yet security penetration testing is worth all the pain and time, as it can not only uncover potential security holes but also prove that IT is a proactive organization that is focused on saving a company money and bad press given the ongoing data thefts taking place today. In fact, one analyst group says pen tests are more valuable today than ever before as malware writers are getting smarter and savvier.

For more on why pen tests are a necessity:
- see this article at CSO magazine