Penetration Testing
A simulated cyberattack performed by security professionals to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's systems, networks, and applications. Penetration tests go beyond automated scanning by using the techniques and methodologies that real attackers employ.
Penetration testing (often shortened to pen testing) is an active security assessment where skilled security professionals attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in an organization's systems. Unlike vulnerability assessments, which primarily identify known weaknesses, penetration tests attempt to actually exploit those weaknesses to demonstrate real-world impact.
Pen tests typically fall into several categories. External penetration tests target internet-facing systems like web applications, APIs, and network infrastructure. Internal penetration tests simulate an attacker who has already gained access to the internal network. Web application penetration tests focus specifically on application-level vulnerabilities such as injection flaws, authentication bypasses, and authorization issues. Social engineering tests evaluate human vulnerabilities through phishing, pretexting, or physical access attempts.
Most compliance frameworks reference penetration testing as a recommended or required security control. ISO 27001 Annex A includes controls related to technical vulnerability management. SOC 2 requires organizations to assess and address vulnerabilities. Many enterprise customers expect annual penetration tests as a minimum. The results of penetration tests should feed back into the risk assessment process, with identified vulnerabilities tracked through remediation and retesting.
Related frameworks
Related terms
Access Control
The set of policies, procedures, and technical mechanisms that govern who can access which information assets, systems, and resources. Access control ensures that only authorized individuals can view, modify, or interact with sensitive data and systems.
Encryption
The process of converting data into an encoded format that can only be read by authorized parties who possess the correct decryption key. Encryption protects data confidentiality both at rest (stored data) and in transit (data being transmitted over networks).
Incident Response
The organized approach to detecting, containing, investigating, and recovering from security incidents. An incident response plan defines roles, procedures, and communication protocols to minimize the impact of security breaches and other adverse events.
Vulnerability Assessment
A systematic process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing security vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications. Unlike penetration testing, vulnerability assessments focus on discovering weaknesses rather than exploiting them.
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