Question

What is the purpose of penetration testing?

1) To verify that protection mechanisms built into a system will protect it from improper penetration
2) To identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a system
3) To simulate real-world attacks and assess the security of a system
4) To ensure compliance with security standards and regulations

Answer 1

Penetration testing is designed to verify protective mechanisms, identify system vulnerabilities, simulate real-world attacks, and ensure compliance with security standards. This allows organizations to proactively maintain system security and address potential weaknesses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of penetration testing encapsulates several objectives when it comes to assessing the security of a system. Primarily, it serves to:

1. Verify that protection mechanisms built into a system will indeed protect it from unauthorized penetration.
2. Identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a system, which includes uncovering defects in software, improper system configurations, and operational weaknesses.
3. Simulate real-world attacks to thoroughly assess the security of a system, providing practical insights into the effectiveness of existing security measures.
4. Ensure compliance with security standards and regulations, helping organizations to meet their legal and ethical obligations.

Through these targeted objectives, penetration testing demonstrates its invaluable role in the proactive maintenance of system security.