penetration testing
compound.compound. a safe way to test a computer system by trying to break into it like a hacker. Companies use this to find and fix security problems before real criminals find them.
compound. a simulated cyberattack against a computer system, network, or web application to identify exploitable vulnerabilities. Often shortened to 'pen testing', it involves authorised attempts to bypass security controls to evaluate the effectiveness of defensive measures.
The bank hires experts to perform penetration testing every year.
After the software update, the security team conducted penetration testing to ensure no new bugs had weakened the firewall.
Regular penetration testing is a critical component of a robust cybersecurity strategy, as it provides actionable insights into how an adversary might actually breach the organisation's digital perimeter.
A compound term formed from the noun penetration, derived from the Latin penetrare, and the gerund testing, from the Latin testum. The phrase emerged in the mid-1960s within United States government and military reports regarding the security of time-sharing computer systems.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often functions as a compound noun; frequently shortened to 'pen testing' in professional contexts.
Last updated July 22, 2026