What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing, also known as “pen testing”, is a simulated cyber attack on a computer system, network, web application, or other IT infrastructure to test its defenses and identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. The goal of penetration testing is to evaluate the security of a system or network and to identify any weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers, like unpatched software vulnerabilities, weak passwords, or misconfigured security controls.
How is penetration testing conducted?
Penetration testing can be conducted in various ways, depending on the specific goals and scope of the test. Some common types of penetration testing include:
- Network penetration testing: This type of testing focuses on the security of a network and its infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and servers. The tester will try to identify vulnerabilities in the network that could be exploited to gain access to sensitive data or systems.
- Application penetration testing: This type of testing focuses on the security of a web application or other software. The tester will try to identify vulnerabilities in the application that could be exploited to gain access to sensitive data or to compromise the system.
