Penetration testing (commonly called pentesting) is a controlled simulation of a real cyberattack against an organisation’s systems.
The goal is to discover exploitable vulnerabilities before criminals do — making it one of the most powerful tools in proactive cybersecurity and IT risk management.
What Penetration Testing Really Is
A pentest is an authorised, ethical attempt by a skilled professional (ethical hacker) to breach systems, applications, or networks using the same techniques as malicious attackers.
Everything is done with explicit permission, and the final deliverable is a detailed report with actionable remediation steps.
Types of Penetration Tests
| Test Type | Focus | |
|---|---|---|
| External | Internet-facing assets (websites, public servers, open ports) | |
| Internal | Simulates an insider or someone who already breached the perimeter | |
| Web Application | In-depth testing of web apps & APIs (XSS, SQLi, CSRF, auth bypasses) | |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi networks, rogue APs, encryption weaknesses | |
| Social Engineering | Phishing, vishing, pretexting, physical security bypass | |
| Mobile / Cloud / IoT | Dedicated tests for mobile apps, cloud configs, embedded devices |
Typical Penetration Testing Phases
- Planning & Scoping – define goals, targets, rules of engagement (OWASP, PTES, OSSTMM)
- Reconnaissance – passive & active information gathering (OSINT, DNS, Shodan)
- Scanning & Enumeration – discover services, versions, and potential vulnerabilities
- Exploitation – actively attempt to gain access, escalate privileges, move laterally
- Post-exploitation & Persistence – assess impact (data access, domain admin, etc.)
- Reporting & Remediation – detailed report with risk ratings and concrete fixes
Why Regular Pentests Are Non-Negotiable
- Find and fix weaknesses before attackers do
- Provide evidence-based improvements for security posture
- Meet compliance requirements (ISO 27001, NIS2, PCI-DSS, GDPR Art. 32, DORA, etc.)
- Build real-world muscle memory for Blue Team and incident response
- Demonstrate due diligence to customers, partners, and insurers
Systems evolve constantly — a pentest older than 12 months is effectively obsolete.
Popular Tools Used by Pentesters
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Network scanning | Nmap, Masscan |
| Vulnerability scanning | Nessus, OpenVAS, Qualys |
| Web testing | Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nikto |
| Exploitation | Metasploit, Cobalt Strike, Impacket |
| OSINT / Recon | theHarvester, Amass, Maltego, Shodan |
Bottom Line
Regular penetration testing is an investment, not an expense.
It dramatically reduces the probability and impact of a real breach while giving leadership clear, data-driven visibility into security risk.
Get in Touch
I deliver professional penetration testing, IT/OT security audits, and Red Team / Blue Team exercises — always with clear, prioritised remediation roadmaps.
Email: biuro@wichran.pl
Phone: +48 515 601 621
Author: Piotr Wichrań – Court-appointed IT forensic expert, IT/OT cybersecurity specialist, licensed private investigator
@Informatyka.Sledcza