What is Penetration Testing?

by Paul Davies

Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing (or pen testing) is a security practice where ethical hackers simulate attacks on a system, network, or application to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.

Penetration testers use tools and techniques similar to those used by actual attackers to find weaknesses in security defenses, such as poorly configured systems, outdated software, or weak passwords. The goal is to proactively discover and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Penetration testing typically follows these steps:

  1. Reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target system to identify potential attack vectors.
  2. Exploitation: Attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access or control.
  3. Post-Exploitation: Assessing the level of access and the potential damage that could be caused.
  4. Reporting: Providing detailed reports to the organisation, outlining the vulnerabilities found, their severity, and recommended remediation steps. Penetration testing can be conducted externally (from the perspective of an outsider) or internally (from within the organization), and is often required for compliance with certain security standards and regulations.