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The types of penetration testing vary based on scope, methodology, and intent. Understanding the differences is critical for scoping the right test for your clients.
For MSPs and vCISOs, being able to explain the different pentest types will help you sell the right service at the right time.
The Main Types of Penetration Testing
There are several key types of penetration testing:
External Penetration Testing
An external pentest simulates an attacker attacking from outside your network. A pentester is given nothing but your domain name and tries to break in from the internet.
External tests often uncover:
- Exposed services and credentials
- Weak authentication or missing MFA
- Vulnerable web applications
- Email security gaps
- Phishing susceptibility
When to use: As a baseline security test for most organizations
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