What is the purpose of a "penetration test"?

A penetration test, often referred to as a pen test, serves the primary purpose of identifying vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application by simulating an attack. This assessment is conducted by ethical hackers who use the same techniques as malicious actors to uncover weaknesses before they can be exploited. The goal is not only to identify existing vulnerabilities but also to evaluate the overall security posture and the effectiveness of existing security measures.

Through this simulated attack approach, penetration tests can reveal potential entry points, misconfigurations, and weaknesses in security protocols, allowing organizations to proactively address these issues. This process is crucial for enhancing security practices and developing effective mitigation strategies, thereby reducing the risk of actual cyber intrusions.

In contrast, actions such as improving user training and education focus on increasing awareness of security practices among users, compliance with regulations pertains to adhering to legal and industry standards related to data protection, and monitoring network traffic is aimed at detecting real-time intrusions rather than simulating potential attacks.