--- 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. image: //www.jerichosecurity.com/hubfs/assets/images/jericho-featured-image.jpg --- [![Jericho Security logo](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/hubfs/assets/images/Jericho-Security.svg)](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/) [![Jericho Security logo](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/hubfs/assets/images/Jericho-Security.svg)](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/) - Why Jericho Why choose Jericho Security? See what sets Jericho Security apart from the rest. 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[← back to glossary](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary) # Penetration Testing #### *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). 1. 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