A well-written penetration test report is more than just a list of vulnerabilities with evidence of their exploitation. It is a strategic document that should provide your organisation with actionable recommendations, an indication of the level of risk associated with each vulnerability, and a clear roadmap for improving your overall security posture. Whether your organisation is new to security or has a well-established programme, a good pentest report can add significant value. Let’s take a look at the key aspects such a report should cover, and why each is important.
External Attacker’s Perspective
One of the key objectives of a penetration test is to simulate how an external attacker would approach your organisation. The report should paint a clear picture of your public attack surface, including exposed IP addresses, domains, DNS records, employee emails, open ports, cloud resources and other entry points. And that’s not all. A good pentester will show you how these seemingly minor issues can be combined or exploited to gain deeper access. For example, a misconfigured web server may seem insignificant until it is combined with an exposed database containing sensitive information.
Role-Specific Vulnerabilities
Organisations often have multiple user roles, such as administrators, standard users, and guests. A thorough pentest examines the security implications of these roles and how attackers could exploit misconfigured permissions or improperly implemented access controls. For instance, can a regular user escalate their privileges to gain admin rights? Can a guest role access data it shouldn’t? The findings are made tangible and actionable by including real-world scenarios in the report, such as lateral movement or privilege escalation.
Tailored Conclusions for Different Maturity Levels
Every organisation’s security journey is unique, and the pentest report should reflect that.
If you are a startup or an organisation without a solid security base, the report can serve as a starting point for understanding your overall security posture. It can identify open IP addresses, domains, DNS records, employee emails, open ports and cloud resources that an external attacker could exploit. It also helps to prioritise the most important issues to address first and provides a clear roadmap for improvement.
For organisations with mature security programs, the report focuses on changes identification and potential new risks. This might include testing recently deployed features, assessment of exposure of significant computing resources like cloud services, or evaluation of new integrations. These tailored recommendations enable both emerging and experienced organisations to effectively adapt their strategies to maintain robust security.
The report ensures that every organisation can benefit, regardless of their starting point, through the tailored recommendations.
What Automated Scanners Miss
In an era dominated by DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines, organisations are increasingly relying on automated tools such as SAST, DAST and SCA scanners to find vulnerabilities. While these tools are incredibly valuable, they have their limitations. A strong pentest report bridges this gap by identifying what automated tools typically miss, such as business logic flaws, chained vulnerabilities, or risks unique to custom APIs.
For example, automated scanners may detect out-of-date software versions, but not a specific configuration that leaves the system open to attack. Skilled pentesters use their expertise to uncover these nuances, thereby adding a layer of security that tools alone cannot provide.
Business Context for Findings
A pentest report should do more than list vulnerabilities; it should relate them to the specific risks your organisation faces. What would happen if a particular vulnerability were exploited? Could it lead to a data breach, regulatory fines, or reputational damage? By framing the findings in terms of their potential impact on the business, decision makers can prioritise remediation efforts and allocate resources more effectively. A vulnerability in a rarely used internal system may carry a lower risk than an issue in a customer-facing web application, even if they have the same severity rating.
Actionable Remediation Steps
The real value of a pentest lies in the actions it inspires. For each finding, the report should offer clear, practical remediation steps. These recommendations should balance security and practicality, and ensure that they are feasible within your organisation’s technical capabilities. Quick wins, such as disabling unnecessary services or applying patches, should be highlighted alongside longer-term solutions such as the implementation of role-based access controls or the adoption of secure coding practices.
Continuous Testing for Long-Term Security
A pentest isn’t a one-time fix; it’s part of an ongoing process to enhance your security posture. This is especially important after major system changes, such as software upgrades or new feature deployments. The recommendations on the periodic re-testing and continuous monitoring report provide a framework for your organisation to address the dynamic threat landscape.
Red Team vs. Blue Team Insights
A pentest is not just about finding vulnerabilities;it’s also about the improvement of your internal security team’s readiness. The report should highlight areas where detection and response mechanisms fell short during the assessment. Did your security tools detect the simulated attack? Were your incident response processes effective? These insights can be highly valuable in both your blue team’s strategies enhancement and preparing them for real-world threats.
Address Silent Threats
Not all vulnerabilities are immediately obvious. The report should draw attention to “silent threats” – issues that may seem low-priority but have significant long-term consequences. For example, weak cryptographic practices or insecure third-party integrations may not lead to immediate exploitation but could become major vulnerabilities over time. The identification and remediation of these risks at an early stage can save your organisation a lot of headaches in the future.
Metrics for Business Leaders
To bridge the gap between technical teams and executives, the report should include easy-to-understand metrics. This could include a summary of the number of exploitable vulnerabilities, a quantification of the reduction in attack surface following remediation, or a compliance readiness score. Visual elements such as graphs and charts can make the findings more digestible for non-technical stakeholders.
Final Thoughts
A pentest report is not just a technical document – it’s a roadmap to better security. Whether you’re starting your security journey or refining an existing programme, the report should enable you to take actionable steps to reduce risk and improve resilience. By focusing on tailored insights, real-world scenarios, and practical recommendations, a good pentest report will ensure that your organisation doesn’t just survive, but reach new heights in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.