Preparing for a penetration test: a 10-point checklist for SMEs

A penetration test is the process of discovering vulnerabilities in your systems by thinking like an attacker, before malicious actors do. But its real value emerges only with proper preparation.

The first step is to define scope clearly: which systems, which IP ranges and which applications will be tested? Boundaries should be set in writing so out-of-scope assets are not affected accidentally.

Second, plan the test window and communication channels. If testing production systems, have a rollback plan and an emergency contact list ready for potential disruptions.

Finally, decide upfront how findings will be prioritized and who receives the report. A good pentest does more than find flaws; it ranks them by business risk and proposes actionable fixes.