WHITE PAPER: How To Define The Scope of A Pentest?

Defining the scope of a pentest is a delicate step. What will be the target of the pentest? Which functional and technical aspects should be tested first? What depth and frequency of testing is recommended?

The objective of this white paper is to provide you with various information to help you define a pentest strategy that suits the challenges of your industry, your organisation and your systems and applications. 

We have gathered all key elements from our discussions with around 200 client companies of all sizes and from all sectors of activity. Each element has to be analysed according to your business context. You will then be able to determine a scope for your future security audits.

Making choices upstream will allow you to be more effective during your exchanges with the partner in charge of the pentest. However, discussion remains essential, as it is by confronting your internal viewpoint with the external viewpoint of a specialised third party that you will reach the best choices in order to validate your security audit project.
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Identify which assets and risks to prioritise to determine what genuinely needs to be tested, based on asset criticality, the data being processed, exposure levels and the risks specific to your organisation.
Choose the right scope and testing approach by selecting the relevant technical environments and deciding how much information to provide to the pentesters : black-box, grey-box or white-box testing.
Scope your penetration test effectively by assessing the factors that influence its duration, coverage and depth, so the engagement can be tailored to your objectives and constraints.
Build a long-term penetration testing strategy by adapting the scope of your assessments as your IT environment, risks and security practices evolve, including the use of AI to enhance pentesters’ capabilities.