Cybersecurity glossary
What is penetration testing?
Also known as: pen test, pentest, ethical hacking
Definition
Penetration testing is an authorized, simulated attack on a system to find and demonstrate exploitable weaknesses before real attackers do.
Why it matters
Tests have a written scope and permission from the system owner. Unlike automated vulnerability scanning, a tester chains findings together to show real impact, then reports fixes.
Common questions about penetration testing
Sources
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