Pentests: Digital Cash Handling Processes — But Secure!

Trust is good, control is better: this applies especially to cash processes in retail. Wherever large volumes of coins and banknotes are moved, processed, and recorded every day, those responsible must not leave security to chance. With increasing digitalization, new points of attack for criminals are emerging. Therefore, when choosing software, the criterion of “pentests” should always play a role.

Digitalization – Opportunity and Challenge

The increasing digitalization of cash management brings numerous advantages in terms of efficiency and transparency. At the same time, however, it expands the attack surface for cybercriminals. Modern platforms connect banks, retailers, and cash-in-transit companies. They process real-time data on inventories, transports, and settlements, optimize processes and in doing so handle sensitive information.

According to the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top Ten, common cyber risks for web applications include broken access controls, insecure designs, vulnerable or outdated components, and insufficient security logging. The Global Retail Report 2025 by KnowBe4 states that retail is among the five industries most affected by cyberattacks. Phishing attacks and stolen login credentials are considered primary entry points.

Thus, the question is: How can we ensure that software solutions for digital cash management are and remain resilient?

Penetration Testing: Thinking Like the Attacker

The answer: software must be put to the test, under realistic conditions. This is where penetration tests, or pentests, come in. They simulate targeted attacks on systems such as web applications or cloud services, enabling the identification of vulnerabilities. A good penetration test adopts the mindset of an attacker and examines how resistant systems truly are under real-world conditions.

It’s not only technical vulnerabilities that come into focus. Physical and human risks can be uncovered as well. Simulated phishing attacks, for example, can reveal whether the security strategy in place is adequate or needs further strengthening. Penetration tests ultimately provide actionable recommendations to protect against various types of attacks.

A Mandatory Task for Software Providers

Pentests play a vital role in ensuring secure software solutions. A one-time test is not enough, security must be a continuous priority. Systems evolve, new features are introduced, interfaces expand, and new users are added.

Regular testing by software providers is therefore an absolute must and should be a top criterion when selecting a solution. Only through recurring tests or tests after major updates can long-term security be guaranteed. A positive side effect: pentesting not only strengthens technical trust but also increases security awareness among users, making social engineering attacks less likely to succeed.

Checklist for Software

Beyond efficiency and transparency, tools must ensure maximum security. Several key criteria should be met as part of pentesting:

• Regular pentests: The provider can demonstrate repeated and successful certifications.
• Comprehensive perspective: Pentests cover a variety of attack scenarios to address increasingly complex threats.
• Compliance with standards: Ideally, the provider follows standards such as those issued by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

Anything beyond these requirements further contributes to security — and this is where ALVARA goes the extra mile. The OWASP Web Security Testing Guide serves as a basic reference framework, as is common industry practice. In addition, we conduct extensive black-box and grey-box tests performed by independent security experts. This ensures that Interactive Cash Control (ICC) meets the highest security requirements even under realistic attack conditions.

At ALVARA, we also place a strong focus on social engineering. Since phishing attacks are on the rise, attack scenarios involving stolen login credentials must be simulated — often referred to as authenticated penetration testing. Our pentesters intentionally receive real login credentials, for example those of a standard user or an administrator, to simulate a successful social hack. This allows us to check:

• whether hackers can escalate privileges,
• whether they can bypass security mechanisms,
• whether data manipulation is possible, and
• whether protected system information can be extracted.

This approach enables software providers to think one step ahead and ensure system robustness even when user accounts are compromised. Especially for platforms like ICC, which process sensitive data on cash movements, orders, or customer information, such testing is essential.

Verified Security in Cash Management

For efficient and transparent cash management, digital solutions are now virtually indispensable. But users of cash handling platforms must be able to rely on them being tested according to the highest standards. Regular software pentests are essential to ensure the security of processes and data. Thus, penetration tests serve as the security anchor for digital cash processes.

Would you prefer not to leave your software security to chance? Then we are your reliable partner for secure, digital cash management.