What Is Ethical Hacking? A Guide for MSPs and Resellers

Ethical hacking is the practice of authorized security testing of computer systems, networks, and applications to find vulnerabilities before attackers do. An ethical hacker (or penetration tester) is hired to attack a system legally and document what they find.

For MSPs, vCISOs, security teams, and businesses of all sizes, ethical hacking is one of your best defenses against real-world attacks.

This guide covers what ethical hacking is, why it matters, and how to find a legitimate ethical hacker to test your systems.

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is authorized penetration testing. An ethical hacker has explicit permission to test your systems and attempt to bypass your security controls.

The key word is "authorized." Without authorization, it's just hacking—and that's illegal.

Ethical hackers operate within strict guidelines:

• They have written authorization from the system owner
• They only test systems they're authorized to test
• They document and report all findings
• They follow a code of ethics and professional standards