Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

When is penetration testing considered necessary and typically performed by a professional?

1. A new threat has been discovered

2. The system is functioning well

3. After an incident response plan is created

4. During regular maintenance

The correct answer is: A new threat has been discovered

Penetration testing is necessary and typically performed by professionals when a new threat has been discovered. This is because emerging threats can exploit vulnerabilities that were previously unrecognized, and penetration testing helps organizations assess their current security posture against these new risks. Conducting a penetration test in response to a newfound threat enables an organization to identify and mitigate potential weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors. In contrast, the other scenarios do not promptly necessitate penetration testing. If a system is functioning well, it may not indicate the presence of vulnerabilities that could be exploited by new threats; thus, testing may not be immediately required. While an incident response plan is crucial for managing breaches, penetration testing typically occurs prior to or concurrent with developing such plans to ensure that the system is resilient to attacks. Regular maintenance focuses on the upkeep of operating systems and applications but does not specifically address security vulnerabilities that are introduced by new threats.