Penetration testing is a simulated, authorized cyberattack on a computer system, network, or web application to find vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit. Unlike automated scans, professional Pen-Testing involves skilled security experts who use the same techniques as “Black Hat” hackers to uncover deep-seated flaws in your infrastructure.

Core Types of Penetration Testing

To build a resilient defense, you must understand the different entry points a hacker might use. Most services fall into these key categories:

• Web Application Testing: Identifying flaws in websites and cloud-based services (e.g., SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting).
• Network Security Testing: Probing internal and external network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and hosts.
• Cloud Penetration Testing: Specialized testing for AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments to ensure configurations are airtight.
• Mobile App Testing: Checking iOS and Android applications for insecure data storage and weak encryption.
• Social Engineering: Testing the “human firewall” through simulated phishing attacks or physical security breaches.