Penetration Testing Methodology: A Practical Guide

A professional penetration test follows a structured methodology consisting of five phases.

Gathering information about the target using OSINT techniques, DNS enumeration, and network scanning.

Using tools like Nmap to discover open ports and services.

nmap -sV -sC -O target.com

Attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities to gain access.

Assessing the impact by determining what data can be accessed.

Documenting findings with severity ratings and remediation steps.

A methodical approach ensures thorough coverage and actionable results.