What is the purpose of penetration testing?

The purpose of penetration testing is to simulate real-world attacks and identify vulnerabilities within a network or system. This practice allows organizations to assess their security posture by mimicking the tactics and techniques that malicious actors may employ. By conducting these controlled attacks, security professionals can discover weak points that could be exploited and provide recommendations for strengthening defenses before actual attacks occur.

Through penetration testing, businesses gain valuable insights into their security gaps, enabling them to prioritize remedial actions based on the level of risk exposure. It encourages a proactive approach to security, ensuring that protective measures are in place before vulnerabilities can be exploited by unauthorized individuals.

The other options, while related to network security, do not align with the primary aim of penetration testing. Reviewing network policies focuses more on governance rather than proactively testing defenses. Installing firewalls pertains to implementing security measures rather than testing existing ones, and analyzing bandwidth usage is about monitoring network performance rather than assessing security vulnerabilities.