Cybersecurity threats are getting more prevalent, and understanding your weaknesses before adversaries exploit them is critical. That’s where penetration testing—also known as pen testing—comes in.
But what is pen testing exactly? We’re going to look at:
Pen testing is a simulated cyberattack conducted by security professionals (often called ethical hackers) to identify vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems, networks, or applications.
It’s like checking your armor for chinks—before someone else does.
Pen testers use the same tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) as real-world threat actors to probe defenses and reveal exploitable weaknesses. These findings help security teams patch, harden, and improve their overall posture.
Penetration testing is about understanding how your environment holds up against real-world attack scenarios. At its core, a pen test aims to identify exploitable weaknesses and help organizations prioritize their defenses based on risk.
Here are the main questions pen testing helps answer:
Not all pen tests are created equal. Depending on your organization’s environment, industry, and threat model, different types of testing may be necessary. Each type simulates a different attack vector to provide a comprehensive view of your security posture.
Below are the most common forms of penetration testing:
Pen testing is a structured, methodical process—not a one-off scan. Understanding the stages of a typical engagement helps organizations know what to expect and how to prepare. Each phase builds on the next to provide meaningful, actionable insights.
Here’s how a typical pen test unfolds:
During the planning and scoping phase, you'll set clear goals for the penetration test. This means figuring out which systems, networks, or applications will be in the spotlight.
You'll also lay out the ground rules, like what methods and tools will be used and any limits to keep things safe and sound.
This step is super important to make sure everyone is on the same page and the test runs smoothly without causing any hiccups in your operations.
In this stage, you'll gather information about the systems, networks, and people involved. This means using techniques like open-source intelligence (OSINT), network scanning, and a bit of social engineering to dig up valuable insights.
The aim is to get a clear picture of the organization's digital setup, spot potential entry points, and understand who does what.
You'll use this info to shape the next steps of the penetration test, making sure it mirrors real-world attack scenarios and packs a punch.
Stage 3, known as the Exploitation phase, is where we try to sneak past existing security controls to see what sensitive data or critical systems we can access.
During this stage, our pen testers use a mix of techniques and tools to poke at identified vulnerabilities, just like a real-world hacker might. The goal is to find out how deep an attacker could dive into the network, what data they might get their hands on, and how they could potentially mess with or swipe this information.
You'll get a firsthand look at the real-world impact of any security gaps and gain valuable insights into how well your current security measures are holding up.
After the exploitation phase, stage 4 is where we dive into the details of the simulated attack to see what kind of impact it had, how persistent it was, and whether any data could have been sneaked out.
This stage is like a detective work session where we figure out just how far the attacker could have gone, how they might have stuck around, and what sensitive info they could have messed with.
The aim here is to get a clear picture of the long-term effects of any weak spots we found, including how an attacker might keep coming back and what that means for keeping your data safe and sound.
This phase gives us a good look at how tough your current security is and points out the spots that need a little extra love to keep future breaches at bay.
Finally, stage 5 is all about sharing the findings with you, complete with detailed risk ratings, supporting evidence, and personalized recommendations for improvement.
This step is important because it gives you a clear picture of the vulnerabilities we found during the pen test, sorted by how serious they are and what impact they might have on your organization.
The report will come with solid proof, like screenshots or logs, to back up the findings, making everything clear and easy to understand.
Plus, the recommendations are designed to help you tackle the identified weaknesses effectively, focusing on actions that will really boost your security and cut down the risk of future breaches.
This stage wraps up the pen test and lays the groundwork for strategic improvements in your cybersecurity defenses.
For contractors in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), pen testing is considered a best practice because it helps:
A penetration test doesn’t end with the last exploit attempt—it ends with knowledge transfer. Once testing is complete, the real value comes from understanding the findings and acting on them. The post-test phase is where organizations take insights from the simulated attack and turn them into meaningful improvements in their security posture.
Typically, you’ll receive a report that includes:
Some organizations also opt for a remediation validation or retest, where the testing team confirms whether fixes were successfully implemented. This ensures vulnerabilities are fully resolved and helps close the loop on the engagement.
If you're a defense contractor, pen testing is a good idea.
Summit 7 offers pen testing – what we call an Attack Surface Assessment – as a part of our Vigilance MSSP. Our Vigilance Team provides both recurring and one-off assessments, with the added value of remediation support and Microsoft gov cloud expertise.
Summit 7 offers stand-alone pen testing or our Vigilance MSSP includes an annual Attack Surface Assessment with the added value of remediation support and Microsoft gov cloud expertise.
So, whether you're preparing for CMMC Level 3, tightening your zero-trust model, or just want to know how secure you really are—Summit 7 has you covered.
If you're interested in taking the next step in your cybersecurity program, check out Vigilance – the #1 MSSP in the DIB.
"Summit 7 is watching with Guardian and Vigilance. Guardian is like the boots on the ground, and Vigilance is like the drones in the sky. Knowing they’re all over it gives me peace of mind." — Matt Gustafson, President of Clinkenbeard