Penetration Testing
Penetration testing, often called pen testing or ethical hacking, is a security assessment methodology where authorized cybersecurity professionals simulate real-world attacks on computer systems, networks, or applications to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The goal is to evaluate the security posture of an organization by uncovering weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them, providing actionable insights for remediation. It typically involves phases like reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and covering tracks, followed by detailed reporting.
Developers should learn penetration testing to build more secure software by understanding how attackers think and operate, enabling them to design and code with security in mind from the start. It is crucial for roles in cybersecurity, DevOps (e.g., securing CI/CD pipelines), and software development in industries like finance, healthcare, or government where data protection is critical. Use cases include compliance audits (e.g., PCI-DSS, HIPAA), vulnerability assessments for web applications or networks, and proactive security testing during the software development lifecycle (SDLC).