ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a general introduction to the subject of penetration testing and provides the
security professional with the background needed to understand this special area of security analysis.
Penetration testing can be a valuable tool for understanding and improving the security of a computer or
network. However, it can also be used to exploit system weaknesses and attack systems and steal valuable
information. By understanding the need for penetration testing, and the issues and processes
surrounding its use, a security professional will be better able to use penetration testing as a standard
part of the analysis toolkit.
