---
title: Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Penetration Testing
description: Penetration testing, or pen testing, is the practice of simulating real-world attacks on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
---

[Jericho Security | Glossary](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary)

# [Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Penetration Testing](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/penetration-testing)

 Written by [Jericho Security Team](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/author/jericho-security-team) | September 28, 2024

#### *Definition:*

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is the practice of simulating real-world attacks on a system or network to identify vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

#### *Use Cases:*

- Used by organizations to assess their security posture by identifying potential weaknesses.
- Employed in compliance testing to meet regulatory standards for cybersecurity.

#### *Related Terms:*

- [Vulnerability Assessment](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/vulnerability-assessment)
- [Ethical Hacking](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/ethical-hacking)
- [Exploit](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/exploit)
- Red Team/Blue Team

#### *Questions and Answers:*

- **What is the purpose of penetration testing?**The purpose is to identify security weaknesses in a system or network before attackers can exploit them, allowing organizations to fix vulnerabilities proactively.
- **How does penetration testing differ from vulnerability scanning?**Vulnerability scanning identifies potential vulnerabilities, while penetration testing actively attempts to exploit them to assess their impact.
- **What are the different types of penetration testing?**Types include black-box testing (with no prior knowledge of the system), white-box testing (with full knowledge), and gray-box testing (partial knowledge).

[View full post](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/penetration-testing)

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