Penetration Testing is a simulated cyberattack conducted by security professionals to evaluate the resilience of an organization’s systems, networks, and applications against real-world threats.

It’s designed to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.

Objectives of Penetration Testing

• Discover security weaknesses in applications, networks, and infrastructure.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing security controls.

• Demonstrate the business impact of potential attacks.

• Provide actionable recommendations to strengthen defenses.

Types of Penetration Testing

1. Network Penetration Testing

   • Internal and external network security assessment.

   • Identifies vulnerabilities like open ports, misconfigurations, and outdated software.

2. Web Application Penetration Testing

   • Focused on websites, APIs, and web apps.

   • Tests for vulnerabilities like SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF, authentication flaws, and insecure direct object references.

3. Mobile Application Penetration Testing

   • Evaluates Android and iOS apps.

   • Checks for insecure data storage, weak encryption, API security flaws, and insecure permissions.

4. Wireless Network Penetration Testing

   • Tests Wi-Fi networks for weak encryption, rogue access points, and poor authentication.

5. Social Engineering Testing

   • Simulates phishing, vishing (voice phishing), and physical intrusion attempts.

6. Physical Penetration Testing

   • Tests physical security controls like locks, access cards, and on-site procedures.

Penetration Testing Process

1. Planning & Scoping – Define objectives, rules of engagement, and test boundaries.

2. Reconnaissance – Gather information about the target environment.

3. Exploitation – Attempt to gain unauthorized access.

4. Post-Exploitation – Assess the potential impact of a breach.

5. Reporting – Deliver a detailed report with findings, risk ratings, and remediation guidance.

6. Re-Testing – Verify that vulnerabilities have been fixed.

Benefits of Penetration Testing

1. Proactive Risk Management – Address vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
2. Regulatory Compliance – Meets PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and other standards’ testing requirements.
3. Customer Trust – Demonstrates commitment to protecting data.
4. Security Improvement Roadmap – Provides clear next steps for remediation.