Penetration testing and vulnerability assessment (VAPT) are two important security processes that help organizations identify and address security weaknesses in their systems and networks.

Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is a simulated cyberattack that attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems and networks. This process is typically carried out by ethical hackers, or white hat hackers, who use the same tools and techniques as malicious attackers. The goal of pen testing is to identify and exploit vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Vulnerability assessment, on the other hand, is a process of identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems and networks. This process is typically carried out using automated scanners that identify known vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and firmware. The goal of vulnerability assessment is to provide organizations with a list of vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.