What to expect during a pentest?
What happens during a penetration test, from scoping and preparation to active testing and the final report, so you know what to expect at each stage.
Blog Tag
#pentest
28 articles on this topic
What Is Penetration Testing? A Plain-Language Guide for First-Timers
Penetration testing explained in plain language: what it is, how it works, and what to expect from scope to final report.
A Tale of Two Penetration Tests
Two organizations came to us for a penetration test with very different questions. What each approach shows about how companies buy security.
Exploring the Psychology Behind Cybersecurity Awareness Through Penetration Testing
How penetration testing shapes security awareness: the wake-up call for employees, their reactions to simulated attacks and the culture that follows.
How to Choose a Reputable Penetration Testing Firm
How to choose a reputable penetration testing firm: define your needs, check certifications and references, set scope and review the reporting process.
What benefit does CREST Penetration Testing Accreditation Bring?
What CREST accreditation means for clients of a penetration testing firm, including quality assurance, industry recognition and stronger client confidence.
Announcing our new CREST Penetration Testing Accreditation
EliteSec has completed its CREST penetration testing audit and is now accredited, a third-party check that our testing follows best practice.
Penetration Testing for Small Businesses - Why Size Doesn't Matter
Why small businesses are targets too, seven common traps that lead them to skip penetration testing, and the red flags that say it is time to plan one.
The Value of Manual Penetration Testing - Beyond Automated Scans
Why manual penetration testing finds what automated scanners miss: strategic thinking, dynamic adaptation, social engineering coverage and customization.
6 Signs Your Organization Needs Professional Penetration Testing
Six signs your organization needs a penetration test, from infrastructure changes and compliance to client requirements and an outdated assessment.
The Hidden Costs of Neglecting Penetration Testing: 5 Real-World Examples
The business costs of skipping penetration testing, including reputational damage, regulatory exposure and false confidence, with breach examples.
Making the Right Choice: Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment
How a penetration test differs from a vulnerability assessment on depth, real-world scenarios and human involvement, and which one fits your business.
Why You Need Regular Cybersecurity Penetration Testing
Seven benefits of regular penetration testing, from finding new vulnerabilities to meeting regulations, and why we recommend testing at least once a year.
7 Penetration Testing Best Practices for Small Businesses
Seven penetration testing best practices for small businesses, from starting with a risk assessment to scoping the test, choosing a provider and retesting.
How Long Does a Pen Test Take? Insights From a Professional Pen Tester
Most pen tests take 2 to 4 weeks, though scope can stretch that from 1 to 15 weeks. What drives the timeline and what can prolong a test.
Building a Penetration Testing Dropbox
A walkthrough of building a Raspberry Pi penetration testing dropbox for remote internal network testing and Wi-Fi audits, from hardware to deployment.
What Is Web Application Penetration Testing? 2024 Comprehensive Guide
What web application penetration testing is, why it matters, how black, grey and white box approaches differ and how a test runs step by step.
Penetration Testing in Cyber Security: How It Works
How penetration testing works in cyber security: the five phases, why compliance teams ask for it and how to choose black, grey or white box access.
12 Penetration Testing Tools You Must Know About Before You Get Started
Which penetration testing tools testers rely on, from Metasploit to Mimikatz, grouped by exploitation, password attacks and information gathering.
Penetration Testing vs. Red Teaming: Decoding Their Unique Roles
How penetration testing and red teaming differ, the pros and cons of each, and when a red team exercise adds more than a standard pen test.
Limitations of Penetration Testing: The Blind Spot Dilemma
Penetration testing is effective but has blind spots. Where it falls short, from scope limits to gaps between tests, and how to counter them.
What's The Difference Between Penetration Testing And Vulnerability Scanning?
To the untrained eye, they have similar-sounding names, but penetration testing and vulnerability scanning are very different services.
How Cybersecurity Services For Startups Can Boost Your Sales
How verifiable, measurable cybersecurity practices help startups overcome trust objections from larger buyers, with seven steps to a security strategy.
Does My Organization Need A Penetration Test?
Criteria for deciding whether your organization needs a penetration test, from compliance and major IT changes to incidents, plus when you can wait.
Find The Best Penetration Testing Service In Waterloo
What to look for in a penetration testing service in Waterloo, from the types of testing to when your business needs one, and how EliteSec works.
How To Find A Penetration Testing Service in Toronto
How to choose a penetration testing service in Toronto: the five phases a competent firm follows, the types of testing on offer and what to expect.
Announcing Second Opinion for Penetration Tests
EliteSec now offers second opinions on penetration tests and vulnerability assessments whose findings look questionable or leave questions unanswered.
You Don't Need a Penetration Test (Yet)
Why you may not need a penetration test yet, even though buyers often require one, and what a test does and does not cover.