Penetration testing (often called a pen test) is a security practice where ethical hackers simulate real-world attacks on your systems, applications, or networks. The goal is to uncover vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. Unlike automated vulnerability scans, which provide lists of potential issues, penetration testing goes deeper by actively attempting to exploit weaknesses. This provides a clearer picture of which vulnerabilities pose real risks to your organization.
Penetration testing is an important part of any security and compliance program because it:
Identifies Real Risks: Highlights exploitable vulnerabilities, not just theoretical ones.
Strengthens Security: Validates whether your defenses work against real-world attack methods.
Supports Compliance: Many frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, require periodic penetration testing.
Builds Trust: Sharing pen test results with customers and prospects demonstrates your commitment to security.
How Penetration Testing Works
Scoping
Define what systems, applications, or networks are in scope for testing.
Reconnaissance
Gather information about the target environment, such as endpoints, exposed services, and application behavior.
Exploitation
Ethical hackers or pen test tools attempt to exploit vulnerabilities to see how far an attacker could go.
Reporting
Findings are documented, including severity, steps to reproduce, and recommendations for remediation.
Remediation & Retesting
After issues are fixed, a retest can confirm vulnerabilities have been resolved.