What is the role of penetration testing in cybersecurity risk assessments?

Penetration testing is an essential component of a thorough cybersecurity risk assessment because it helps identify vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems, networks, and applications that could be exploited by malicious actors. By simulating real-world cyber attacks, penetration testing helps organizations understand their security posture and potential weaknesses. This proactive approach allows for vulnerabilities to be identified and remediated before they can be exploited by attackers, ultimately helping to strengthen the overall cybersecurity defenses of an organization.