A penetration test is an authorised, simulated cyber attack conducted against an organisation's systems, networks, or applications to identify security weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them. Penetration testers use the same techniques and tools as real attackers, but operate within a defined scope and rules of engagement agreed upon with the organisation, providing a realistic assessment of security posture.
Regular penetration testing is required by numerous compliance frameworks including PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and NIS2. The results provide actionable findings ranked by severity, enabling organisations to prioritise remediation efforts. Penetration tests complement automated vulnerability scanning by identifying complex attack chains and business logic flaws that automated tools typically miss.