Table of contets

1. Penetration testing: tools and the importance of pentests for IT security
2. Definition: what is a penetration test?
3. Goals of a penetration test
4. Types of penetration tests
5. Why are penetration tests important for IT security?
6. Overview of penetration testing tools
7. Penetration tests and the role of an ISMS
8. Functions of i-doit INDITOR®
9. Penetration tests and a sustainable security strategy

Penetration testing: tools and the importance of pentests for IT security 

Cyberattacks have long ceased to be an abstract danger; instead, they represent a direct threat to business continuity. According to a recent Bitkom study, 73% of the companies surveyed recorded an increase in attacks. 59% see their existence endangered as a result.

Reactive action is not enough in this situation. Companies must proactively test their cybersecurity with penetration tests (in short: pentests) and track down vulnerabilities under controlled conditions in order to anticipate attackers.

How resilient is your IT infrastructure against a real cyberattack? An IT security test in the form of a penetration test provides you with the answer. In this article, you will learn how a penetration test proceeds methodically, which tools are used in the process, and why regular pentests are an important building block of any security strategy.

Definition: what is a penetration test/pentest?

A penetration test or pentest is a simulated, authorised cyberattack on your IT systems. Ethical hackers adopt the perspective of a real attacker to methodically identify security gaps and find out their damage potential.

In this context, an intelligence-based penetration test is significantly more meaningful than automated vulnerability scans. It evaluates the interaction of technical, organisational, and procedural measures within a real context. The IT security test delivers an unvarnished answer to the question: does your overall system withstand a targeted attack?

Goals of a penetration test

• Identification of critical vulnerabilities: A penetration test uncovers gaps in networks, systems, and applications that could serve as an entry point for attacks.
• Assessment of real business risks: Pentests determine which vulnerabilities have the greatest damage potential for your business processes.
• Derivation of concrete recommendations for action: Based on the results, you create a prioritised catalogue of measures to close the identified security gaps.
• Proof of compliance: A penetration test provides the necessary documentation to meet audit requirements and regulatory specifications (ISO 27001 & BSI IT-Grundschutz).

Types of penetration tests

Depending on the objective and infrastructure, specific methods are used during a penetration test to examine attack vectors.

External pentest

An external pentest simulates an attack from the outside on the publicly accessible infrastructure (e.g. web servers, VPN gateways, or cloud services). The goal of external pentests is to test the outer line of defence.

Internal pentest

An internal pentest simulates an attacker who already has access to the internal network (e.g. through phishing, compromised endpoints, or as an insider). It evaluates the resilience of the system against lateral movements.

Web applications

This IT security test analyses web applications and APIs for specific vulnerabilities such as the OWASP Top 10 (e.g. SQL injection, cross-site scripting), which frequently serve as a primary entry point.

Wireless pentests

A wireless pentest reviews the WLAN infrastructure for configuration errors, weak encryption, and the possibility of gaining unauthorised access to the corporate network.

Why are penetration tests important for IT security?

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex. Therefore, it is not enough to merely strengthen one's own digital defences. A penetration test forces a change of perspective. You evaluate your security measures through the eyes of an attacker. This proactive approach is important to find gaps in your IT infrastructure that firewalls and automated scanners overlook.

What are the advantages of a penetration test?

• Risk minimisation: Pentests detect vulnerabilities before they are instrumentalised for data theft, ransomware attacks, or operational outages.
• Fulfilment of compliance requirements: Regular penetration tests are a core requirement of standards such as ISO 27001, TISAX, or BSI IT-Grundschutz and provide the necessary proof for audits.
• Protection against financial and reputational damage: With a pentest, you ideally avoid the direct and indirect costs of a successful attack, from system recovery to the loss of customer trust.
• Optimisation of the security strategy: The results of a pentest provide you with insight into the areas with the highest identified risk and allow you to sharpen your IT security concept.
• Strengthening the market position: You demonstrate proactive protective measures and position yourself as a trustworthy and resilient business partner.

Overview of penetration testing tools

For penetration tests, there are specialised tools with which you can methodically uncover vulnerabilities and simulate attacks.

Common tools for penetration tests:

• Nmap: This penetration testing tool is a standard tool for network reconnaissance to map open ports, active services, and the system landscape.
• Metasploit Framework: A comprehensive platform for developing and executing exploits to demonstrate how vulnerabilities can be exploited in an emergency.
• Burp Suite: The de facto standard for manual security analysis of web applications by intercepting and manipulating HTTP/S traffic.
• Wireshark: A powerful network protocol analyser for in-depth investigation of data traffic and the identification of anomalies.
• OWASP ZAP: A widely used open-source alternative for the automated and manual testing of web applications, ideal for integration into CI/CD pipelines.

Penetration tests and the role of an ISMS

A penetration test is only as effective as the process that follows it. A PDF report alone does not close any security gap. The greatest challenge lies in transferring the acquired insights into a Continuous Improvement Process (CIP).

This is precisely where i-doit INDITOR® comes in. The software solution operationalises the results of your penetration tests and integrates them seamlessly into an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Functions of i-doit INDITOR®

1. Building an ISMS

i-doit NDITOR® delivers the structure to build an ISMS according to ISO 27001 and BSI IT-Grundschutz. With the software, you document security measures centrally and link them directly to risks, vulnerabilities, and processes. You generate the Statement of Applicability and the risk treatment plan from the recorded data. This saves time during audits and makes the proof of standard conformity traceable.

2. Risk assessment and management

The integrated risk management evaluates risks based on probability of occurrence and extent of damage. With i-doit INDITOR®, you document penetration tests in a structured manner. You selectively integrate vulnerabilities and threats from external catalogues. Identified security gaps do not end up in Excel lists, but directly within the ISMS. This allows you to maintain an overview of all open items.

3. Integration of test results

You can import results from penetration tests or other IT security tests directly into the ISMS. Linking them with existing risks and measures shows you where action is required. This makes continuous improvement measurable, rather than just documenting it.

4. Implementation of BSI and ISO specifications and more

i-doit NDITOR® comes with implementation recommendations for standards such as ISO 27001, BSI IT-Grundschutz, TISAX, BAIT, and VAIT. You work with the standards that are relevant to your company without having to rely on generic templates.

Penetration tests and a sustainable IT security strategy

A one-off penetration test provides a valuable snapshot. However, a resilient security strategy requires a continuous process. Integrating regular, methodical IT security tests into a centrally managed ISMS tool like i-doit INDITOR® transforms reactive measures into a proactive, data-driven security management setup.

You ensure that insights from your penetration tests flow directly into strengthening your security measures. This approach protects your assets and strengthens the trust of customers and partners in your digital resilience.