Penetration Testing

Penetration testing, often called pen testing or ethical hacking, is a proactive security practice where authorized security professionals attempt to breach an organization's defenses using the same techniques real attackers would employ. The goal is to uncover weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications before they can be exploited maliciously.

A typical penetration test follows a structured methodology that includes reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and reporting. During reconnaissance, testers gather information about the target. Scanning involves identifying open ports and services. The exploitation phase attempts to leverage discovered vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. Finally, a detailed report documents all findings, including severity ratings and remediation recommendations.

There are several types of penetration tests, including black-box testing where the tester has no prior knowledge of the system, white-box testing where full system details are provided, and gray-box testing which falls somewhere in between. Organizations typically conduct penetration tests on a regular schedule, after significant infrastructure changes, or as part of compliance requirements such as PCI DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.

Penetration testing differs from vulnerability scanning in that it goes beyond automated detection to actively exploit vulnerabilities, providing proof-of-concept demonstrations that help stakeholders understand real-world risk. The results enable organizations to prioritize remediation efforts based on actual exploitability rather than theoretical risk alone.