What does a penetration test involve?

A penetration test involves simulating an attack on a system to identify vulnerabilities and assess the security measures in place. This process is critical in helping organizations understand how their systems could be exploited by malicious actors. By mimicking the techniques and tactics used by hackers, penetration testers can uncover weaknesses that need to be addressed, allowing the organization to improve its overall security posture.

In contrast, regularly updating antivirus software focuses on keeping existing security solutions up to date, which is a reactive rather than proactive measure. Creating software patches is about fixing vulnerabilities but does not entail actively testing them in a simulated attack scenario. Monitoring network performance relates to observing the efficiency and functioning of network components but does not directly address security vulnerabilities through active testing.