The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks is driving organizations worldwide to rethink their security strategies. Recent data shows that cyberattacks surged by 38% globally over the past year, underscoring the urgency of adopting proactive methodologies to safeguard systems. In this context, pentesting—penetration testing—emerges as a fundamental approach to identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in complex environments.
In Latin America, where digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, organizations face unique cybersecurity challenges. The expansion of digital platforms in critical sectors has heightened concerns about protecting sensitive data. Against this backdrop, pentesting is gaining traction as a proactive mechanism to anticipate and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
A recent example comes from a leading LogTech company specializing in developing Transportation Management System (TMS) solutions, which achieved ISO 27001 certification with the technical support of Ecosistemas Global, recently recognized by CIOReview Latam as a Top IT Service Provider in Latin America for 2025. Richard Lopez, Technical Lead for QA Automation, spearheaded the project by integrating advanced tools like OWASP ZAP for automated scanning and managing findings through Jira to ensure agile, efficient follow-up.
The project stood out for strategically reusing previously developed functional automated tests, adapting them to address the security aspects as well. This approach leveraged prior efforts, reducing workload and accelerating the deployment of critical validations. Real-time automated security tests were executed, simulating controlled attacks while the application was live. Integration with Jira further ensured that each finding was automatically logged for streamlined management and resolution.
“The challenge was to integrate continuous security testing without disrupting operational processes,” explained Richard Lopez. “We chose automated penetration testing, simulating attacks while the application was in use, which enabled us to detect critical vulnerabilities, such as a potential SQL injection, without compromising system stability.”
Global Trends: Innovation and Challenges in Pentesting
The most advanced cybersecurity practices are shifting towards Continuous Penetration Testing (CPT), which enables real-time assessment of systems’ security posture and rapid adaptation to emerging threats. However, the main challenge remains the swift remediation of vulnerabilities, where automation plays a critical role. In the United States, initiatives such as the National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023) and programs led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have established a comprehensive framework for preventing, investigating, and responding to cyber threats. These initiatives prioritize public-private collaboration, the protection of critical infrastructure, and advanced workforce training to strengthen national cybersecurity resilience.
Paola Aguirre, Head of Testing Services at Ecosistemas Global, concludes: “Our goal is to keep evolving in functional and non-functional testing, integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to deliver more robust, adaptive solutions. The true challenge is blending technology with the critical perspective of QA teams to build safer, more efficient environments ready for the future.”
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The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks is driving organizations worldwide to rethink their security strategies. Recent data shows that cyberattacks surged by 38% globally over the past year, underscoring the urgency of adopting proactive methodologies to safeguard systems. In this context, pentesting—penetration testing—emerges as a fundamental approach to identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in complex environments.
In Latin America, where digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, organizations face unique cybersecurity challenges. The expansion of digital platforms in critical sectors has heightened concerns about protecting sensitive data. Against this backdrop, pentesting is gaining traction as a proactive mechanism to anticipate and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
A recent example comes from a leading LogTech company specializing in developing Transportation Management System (TMS) solutions, which achieved ISO 27001 certification with the technical support of Ecosistemas Global, recently recognized by CIOReview Latam as a Top IT Service Provider in Latin America for 2025. Richard Lopez, Technical Lead for QA Automation, spearheaded the project by integrating advanced tools like OWASP ZAP for automated scanning and managing findings through Jira to ensure agile, efficient follow-up.
The project stood out for strategically reusing previously developed functional automated tests, adapting them to address the security aspects as well. This approach leveraged prior efforts, reducing workload and accelerating the deployment of critical validations. Real-time automated security tests were executed, simulating controlled attacks while the application was live. Integration with Jira further ensured that each finding was automatically logged for streamlined management and resolution.
“The challenge was to integrate continuous security testing without disrupting operational processes,” explained Richard Lopez. “We chose automated penetration testing, simulating attacks while the application was in use, which enabled us to detect critical vulnerabilities, such as a potential SQL injection, without compromising system stability.”
Global Trends: Innovation and Challenges in Pentesting
The most advanced cybersecurity practices are shifting towards Continuous Penetration Testing (CPT), which enables real-time assessment of systems’ security posture and rapid adaptation to emerging threats. However, the main challenge remains the swift remediation of vulnerabilities, where automation plays a critical role. In the United States, initiatives such as the National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023) and programs led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have established a comprehensive framework for preventing, investigating, and responding to cyber threats. These initiatives prioritize public-private collaboration, the protection of critical infrastructure, and advanced workforce training to strengthen national cybersecurity resilience.
Paola Aguirre, Head of Testing Services at Ecosistemas Global, concludes: “Our goal is to keep evolving in functional and non-functional testing, integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to deliver more robust, adaptive solutions. The true challenge is blending technology with the critical perspective of QA teams to build safer, more efficient environments ready for the future.”
