Cybersecurity definition
What is Pentest?
Pentest stands for Penetration Test.
By Cyber Tool Stack Editorial TeamUpdated
Definition
An authorized, time-boxed engagement where a tester actively attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in a system or network, going beyond a vulnerability scan's list of weaknesses to prove which ones are actually exploitable.
Where Pentest fits in the security landscape
These beginner lessons use this term while explaining the surrounding security control.
Related cybersecurity terms
Red TeamA group that simulates real-world adversary tactics against an organization's people, processes, and technology to test whether defenses actually hold up, typically operating without the defenders' knowledge until after the exercise.BASBreach and Attack SimulationSoftware that continuously and safely runs simulated attack techniques against an environment to measure whether existing defenses actually detect or block them, rather than trusting that a control works just because it's installed.