What is the main objective of penetration testing?

The primary goal of penetration testing is to simulate cyberattacks to assess the security posture of an organization. This process involves a systematic approach where ethical hackers attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in systems, applications, and network infrastructures just as malicious actors would. By doing so, organizations can identify and address weaknesses before they are exploited in real attacks. Penetration testing provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of current security measures, highlighting potential entry points for threats and enabling organizations to enhance their defense strategies accordingly.

Contextually, the other choices focus on unrelated objectives. Validating software licenses pertains to compliance and software management rather than security assessment. Measuring network speed relates to performance optimization, while identifying resource allocation is a financial management concern, not a security evaluation. Thus, the focus of penetration testing squarely revolves around evaluating and improving the security of systems against potential cyber threats.