How are the stages of a pen test very similar to those of the Cyber Kill Chain?

• Planning and Gathering Info: Both gather information about the target.
• Scanning and Preparing: Pen tests scan for vulnerabilities similar to attackers preparing their attack.
• Exploiting Weaknesses: In pen tests we exploit vulnerabilities like attackers exploiting weaknesses.
• Maintaining Access: Aim to keep access to the system.
• Assessing Impact: Assess the impact of the attack or test.

Your manager has asked you to explain the benefits of a pentest to the company’s leadership. How would you lead this conversation?

I would explain to my leadership the following benefits of penetration testing, which are the following:

• Find and Fix Issues: It helps us find and fix problems before bad actors can use them.
• Meet Rules: We meet industry rules and regulations, avoiding penalties and showing we take security seriously.
• Protect Data: It safeguards sensitive data like customer information.
• Prepare for Incidents: It helps us get ready for real attacks by testing our response.
• Save Money: It's cost-effective, preventing expensive data breaches.
• Raise Awareness: It makes our staff more security-aware.
• Keep Getting Better: Pen testing is ongoing, keeping us ahead of evolving threats.

References:

https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/penetration-testing/