After the penetration test is completed, the testing team typically delivers a detailed report that outlines their findings. This report includes a high-level executive summary for non-technical stakeholders, as well as a technical breakdown of vulnerabilities discovered, their severity, how they were found and steps for remediation. The organization’s internal IT or security team should carefully review this report, assess the risk each issue presents and begin prioritizing fixes based on severity and potential business impact.

A debrief session is often scheduled with the penetration testers to walk through the findings, clarify any technical details and answer questions. The organization may also initiate internal reviews to determine why certain vulnerabilities existed and whether additional controls or policies need to be introduced. If significant changes or fixes are implemented, a retest may be scheduled to verify that the vulnerabilities have been properly resolved. The ultimate goal is to use the results of the test to strengthen the organization’s overall security posture and reduce future risk.