When it comes to cybersecurity, there is so much to consider. The great news is, from firewalls and anti-virus software to penetration and bug bounty testing, there are lots of ways you can protect your business from a data breach.
But these cybersecurity buzzwords can be a little confusing if you’ve not heard them before. That’s where this guide comes in.
In this guide, we’re going to focus solely on bug bounty programs, what they are and why you should consider this approach to your online security. And though these programs are nothing new, they have become a lot more prevalent in recent years, with cybercrime on the rise and lots of large-scale data breaches making the news.
So if you’ve not considered this approach before, this guide can help you understand bug bounty programs and whether this approach is right for your business.
What is a bug bounty program?
Let’s start with the most obvious thing, what is a bug bounty program?
In a nutshell, this is a program run by businesses as a way of identifying and fixing any vulnerabilities within their applications and networks. The program gives ethical hackers and other cybersecurity professionals permission to test applications, software and web pages for vulnerabilities.
They are then compensated for reporting any bugs or vulnerabilities they find, especially those that could pertain to serious cybersecurity issues. The business will decide beforehand what the payout will be for each bug reported.
There are two different types of bug bounty programs: private (invite-only) and public (where anyone can sign up and join). These can take place over a set period, or that can be left open with no real end date.
The end result of any of these programs is typically a report that is pulled together using bug bounty software such as Bugcrowd or HackerOne - but more on these later. In the case of private programs, these reports must be kept confidential and are only accessible to the relevant members of the business.
Who uses bug bounty programs?
So far, we’ve just made references to ‘businesses’, but who actually uses bug bounty programs? In reality, any organisation of any size that is concerned about its security can use this approach. That being said, it tends to be larger organisations that use these programs. These are often used in both the public and private sectors.
As well as helping to protect a company’s cybersecurity efforts, big-name brands also like to use bug bounties as a bit of a PR stunt, showing that they have a mature security program and that they are doing all they can to protect their systems and sensitive data.
What are the benefits of using a bug bounty program?
As we’ve mentioned, bug bounty programs aren’t new, but they are certainly becoming more popular - and with good reason. There are a number of great benefits to using bug bounty programs in your business, and these are:
How do you run a bug bounty program?
In this final section, we’re going to look at how you conduct a bug bounty program. Of course, the way these are established and run can differ depending on the type of program, the budget, the company, etc. That being said, there is a general step by step process that can be followed, and it goes something like this:
Step one: Decide on the type of program
Decide on the type of program you want to run, whether that’s public or private. Just remember, though it might seem like more people working on your program is better, it does come with its challenges.
For example, more bug submissions mean more work, more responses and more money.
Step two: Set out the scope
Next, you need to clearly set out the scope, rules and prices for all participants who want to help you on your cybersecurity mission. Again, this might vary depending on whether you’re opening it up to the public or going private.
Step three: Establish a test environment
You need to establish a work environment for your bug bounty program to be tested in, often called the bug bounty test environment (BBTE). This must be isolated, segregated, and well-segmented and should not link to existing environments such as Dev or QA. Otherwise, you could actually be making your networks and systems more vulnerable to hackers.
Step four: Plan for blackouts
You may need to set blackout periods for your web pages, applications, etc., so that outsiders aren’t trying to test your systems during busy periods. Plus, if you need to make any changes or updates, these might take additional time to deploy.
Step five: Get everyone on board
You need to make sure that you’ve got the support of all the relevant departments, in particular, the C-suite, legal, development and communications teams. Everyone will play an important role in the program, be that publicising the program, dealing with budgets for paying hackers or legal assistance for writing contracts and scopes.
Step six: Make sure you have the right team in place
In order to make your program a success, you need to make sure you’ve got all the relevant technology and staff to support it. So make sure you’ve got a good team behind you, and everyone knows their role.
Step seven: Do a test
Before you go full scale, particularly if you’re going public with your program, it’s a good idea to launch a smaller test with a limited pool of bug bounty hunters. This way, you can adjust any issues with the program before rolling it out.
Step eight: Market the program
The next thing you need to do if you’re running a public program is market it like you would any other job role or product. You can do this online and in person, perhaps at industry events and dedicated online cybersecurity communities.
Step nine: Get ready to act
Finally, as soon as you’ve begun receiving reports of bugs and vulnerabilities, you need to act as quickly as possible to rectify these issues. This is vital for mitigating the risks and reducing the likelihood of a security breach.
