Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is the primary focus of penetration testing?

1. Network performance assessment

2. Identifying vulnerabilities

3. Data recovery

4. Malware detection

The correct answer is: Identifying vulnerabilities

The primary focus of penetration testing is to identify vulnerabilities in a system, network, or application. This process simulates real-world attacks on an organization's IT infrastructure to discover exploitable weaknesses. By actively probing for vulnerabilities, penetration testers can provide valuable insights into security flaws that could be taken advantage of by malicious actors. This practice helps organizations strengthen their security posture by understanding where they are most vulnerable and implementing appropriate security measures to mitigate risks. While other options like network performance assessment, data recovery, and malware detection are important aspects of cybersecurity, they do not align with the core objective of penetration testing, which is specifically centered around vulnerability identification.