Penetration testing, also known as a pen test, is a simulated cyberattack against your network. It includes an analysis of the organization’s current security practices and recommendations for improving security.
A pen test aims to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. When the test is complete, you’ll receive a report outlining the results. But what should you expect to find in an enterprise penetration testing report? This article will break down the key components of such a document.
What Is a Penetration Testing Report?
A penetration testing report is a document that details the findings of a security assessment conducted using penetration testing techniques. The report should include information about the engagement’s scope, the test’s objectives, and a summary of the findings. It should also have recommendations for remediation. (Imperva, 2019)
Penetration testing reports can be used to improve an organization’s security posture by identifying weaknesses and providing guidance on how to fix them. They can also be used to satisfy regulatory requirements or provide evidence of due diligence in a data breach.
When commissioning a penetration test, it’s crucial to ensure that the vendor understands your objectives and can provide a report that meets your needs. Be sure to ask for samples of previous reports before making a decision.
When Is a Penetration Testing Report Used?
Organizations use penetration testing reports to help identify and fix security vulnerabilities in their systems before attackers can exploit them. A penetration testing report helps an organization assess the effectiveness of its security controls, understand where its systems are vulnerable, and determine what steps it needs to take to improve its security posture.
Penetration testing reports can be used to:
Identify security vulnerabilities: A penetration tester will attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems to gain access to sensitive data or disrupt operations. The tester will then document the steps to exploit the vulnerabilities, which can help the organization identify and fix the issues.
Assess the effectiveness of security controls: By testing the organization’s ability to detect and respond to attacks, a penetration testing report can help assess the effectiveness of its security controls.
Understand where systems are vulnerable: Penetration testing can help an organization identify which systems and data are most at risk from attack. This information can be used to prioritize security improvements.
Determine what steps to take to improve security: Based on the findings of a penetration test, an organization can determine what steps it needs to take to improve its security posture. These steps might include implementing new security controls, improving employee awareness of security risks, or increasing investment in security infrastructure.
Why Is a Penetration Testing Report Essential?
A penetration testing report is essential for a variety of reasons:
System weaknesses: A good penetration testing report is essential because it can help you understand your system weaknesses and what needs to be done to fix them. You can make the necessary changes to your system to improve its security by identifying these weaknesses.
Overall security: It can provide valuable information to management about the overall security of the organization’s systems. This information can be used to decide whether to invest in additional security measures. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of existing security measures.
Expense justification: It can also help you justify the expense of hiring a professional penetration testing company. In many cases, the cost of hiring a professional company is much less than repairing the damage that could have been avoided if proper testing had been conducted.
Components of an Enterprise Penetration Testing Report
An enterprise penetration testing report is a document that details the findings of a security assessment of a computer system, network, or web application. The report should include information about the vulnerabilities discovered, the steps taken to exploit them, and the recommendations for remediation. (Dummies, 2022)
A well-written report will provide clear and actionable recommendations that can be used to improve the security posture of the organization. It should also be easy to understand for both technical and non-technical staff.
The following are some of the key components that should be included in an enterprise penetration testing report:
Executive Summary: The executive summary should provide a high-level overview of the findings from the assessment. It should contain information about the most critical vulnerabilities discovered and the recommendations for remediation.
Scope of Work: The scope of work section should describe the systems and networks tested and the methods used. This information will help ensure that the report is tailored to the organization’s needs.
Findings: The findings section should detail all vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment. For each vulnerability, there should be informed about the risk level, how it was exploited, and what steps can be taken to remediate it.
Recommendations: The recommendations section should address the vulnerabilities identified in the findings section. These recommendations should be prioritized based on the risk level of the vulnerabilities.
Appendix: The appendix should include any supporting documentation that will help understand the findings and recommendations from the assessment. This may include screenshots, network diagrams, or code snippets.
The components of an enterprise penetration testing report will vary depending on the organization’s needs. However, all reports should provide a clear and actionable overview of the security risks in the tested systems and networks.
The final report is a comprehensive document detailing the engagement’s findings and any recommendations for mitigating or addressing the identified issues. It also includes an executive summary to give business leaders a high-level overview of the risks and vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment.
A good enterprise penetration testing report will help your organization understand where cybersecurity risk stands and what steps need to be taken to reduce that risk.
Why Choose EC-Council’s C|PENT Certification
EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) program equips you with the knowledge and skills to conduct a penetration test in an enterprise network environment that must be attacked, exploited, evaded, and protected. C|PENT Cyber Range provides comprehensive training based on real-world scenarios through performance-based cyber challenges on live Cyber Range, giving you an advantage in penetration testing.
You can write effective enterprise reporting with the C|PENT’s guidance. Designed by industry experts, the program will help you become a world-class penetration tester.
Get real-world experience through an advanced penetration testing range.
To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify/certified-penetration-testing-professional-cpent/
References
Imperva. (2019). What is Penetration Testing | Step-By-Step Process & Methods | Imperva. Learning Center. https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/penetration-testing/
Dummies (2022, September 19) How to Structure a Pen Test Report. https://www.dummies.com/article/technology/cybersecurity/how-to-structure-a-pen-test-report-270933/
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