Penetration Testing
Penetration testing (pen testing) is an authorized simulated cyber attack against your systems to identify security weaknesses before real attackers do. Professional penetration testers use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers — but with your permission and under controlled conditions — to find vulnerabilities in your networks, applications, and physical security.
Pen tests go beyond automated vulnerability scanning by chaining multiple vulnerabilities together and using creative approaches to breach your defenses, just as a real attacker would. The results show you not just individual vulnerabilities, but how they could be exploited together to compromise your systems.
Why It Matters
While not explicitly required at CMMC Level 2, penetration testing is a best practice that reveals gaps automated tools miss. It provides real-world validation of your security controls and helps prioritize remediation based on actual exploitability.