Penetration Testing Stages Explained | Microminder Cyber Security

Penetration testing stages are the core steps that cybersecurity professionals follow to simulate cyberattacks, uncover vulnerabilities, and assess how well an organization can detect and defend against real-world threats.

Each stage in the pentesting process is designed to mimic the tactics of actual threat actors while operating under strict ethical and legal boundaries. This helps businesses strengthen their security posture without experiencing actual damage.

Penetration testing starts by defining objectives and gathering intelligence, followed by mapping assets and identifying exploitable vulnerabilities. The process concludes with a detailed report outlining risks, remediation steps, and retesting recommendations.

What are the stages of penetration testing?

The stages of penetration testing are Planning and Reconnaissance, Scanning and Enumeration, Gaining Access or Exploitation, Maintaining Access, Covering Tracks, and Reporting and Remediation. These stages simulate a complete attack lifecycle, helping organizations identify and fix vulnerabilities before real attackers can exploit them.

Let’s break each of these down.

Stage 1: Planning and reconnaissance

The planning and reconnaissance stage is where testers define goals, scope, and gather intelligence about the target environment.

This is the foundation of the ethical hacking process, ensuring all activities are authorized, documented, and strategically aligned

Key activities:

Define goals and legal boundaries
Identify testing scope (internal, external, application, etc.)
Collect open-source intelligence (OSINT)
Profile assets such as domains, IP ranges, and tech stacks

Example: Ethical hackers may use tools like Maltego or Shodan to identify exposed services and gather public data on the organization.

Stage 2: Scanning and enumeration

The scanning and enumeration stage identifies active systems, services, and potential vulnerabilities in the target environment.

This phase transitions from passive data collection to active probing.

Core actions include:

Network scanning (e.g., with Nmap) to find live hosts and open ports
Service enumeration to identify running software
Vulnerability scanning using tools like Nessus or OpenVAS

At this point, testers build a map of the environment to prioritize likely entry points.

Stage 3: Gaining access

The gaining access stage is where ethical hackers attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities and breach systems.

This is where the test moves from theoretical risk to real impact.

Typical attack vectors:

Exploiting web application flaws (e.g., SQL injection, XSS)
Cracking weak passwords
Leveraging misconfigured systems or outdated software

Tools like Metasploit or Burp Suite may be used to launch these attacks. Once testers gain access, they move to the next critical stage.

Stage 4: Maintaining access

The maintaining access stage tests whether an attacker can establish a persistent presence in the system without being detected.

This phase simulates how long a threat actor could linger in your environment, often referred to as “dwell time.”

Techniques used:

Installing backdoors or trojans
Creating hidden user accounts
Deploying remote access tools (RATs)

Microminder Cyber Security’s red team specialists simulate these tactics to uncover long-term access risks that are often missed by traditional scanners.

Stage 5: Covering tracks

The covering tracks stage checks if attackers can erase evidence of their actions and avoid detection by security tools.

This tests the effectiveness of your logging, monitoring, and incident response systems.

Actions may include:

Deleting logs
Obfuscating malware payloads
Disabling security software

If your SIEM or MDR platform doesn't flag these attempts, it’s a signal that detection rules or alerting mechanisms need tightening.

Stage 6: Reporting and remediation

The reporting and remediation stage documents all findings, provides risk rankings, and suggests actionable fixes for each issue.

Microminder Cyber Security prepares compliance-ready reports that meet standards like NCA ECC, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Reporting should include:

Executive summary of test objectives and results
Detailed list of vulnerabilities found and how they were exploited
Business risk levels and CVSS scores
Recommendations for patching and improving defenses
Optional post-remediation retesting

This stage ensures stakeholders know what to fix and how fast they need to act.

Why is following these penetration testing stages important?

Each of the penetration testing stages is critical because skipping even one can result in an incomplete security picture. For example:

Without planning, tests may miss key systems or violate laws.
Without scanning, vulnerabilities go undetected.
Without reporting, nothing gets fixed.

Microminder Cyber Security uses this structured approach to ensure every test is realistic, risk-prioritized, and actionable.

What is the timeline for the phases of pentesting?

The initial six phases of a penetration test—from reconnaissance to final reporting—typically span around ten days. This may vary slightly based on the scope and complexity of the engagement.

The remediation phase timeline hinges on how quickly your development team can implement the recommended fixes. Most VAPT providers offer a free rescan within a specified window, so it’s important to address vulnerabilities promptly to take advantage of this offer.

Start your pen testing journey

Understanding the full pentesting process gives security teams a blueprint for defense. Microminder Cyber Security delivers all six penetration testing stages with precision, compliance, and minimal disruption, making us a trusted choice for enterprises across the GCC and beyond.

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Contents

What are the stages of penetration testing?
Stage 1: Planning and reconnaissance
Stage 2: Scanning and enumeration
Stage 3: Gaining access
Stage 4: Maintaining access
Stage 5: Covering tracks
Stage 6: Reporting and remediation
Why is following these penetration testing stages important?
What is the timeline for the phases of pentesting?

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FAQs

What are the stages of penetration testing?

The six core stages of penetration testing are Planning, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access, Covering Tracks, and Reporting. Each stage mirrors an attacker’s behavior, helping organizations prepare and defend effectively.

What is the difference between internal and external penetration testing?

Internal penetration testing simulates an insider threat or post-breach attacker, while external penetration testing mimics attacks from outside your organization. Both types of penetration tests are vital for full risk visibility.

Is social engineering legal in penetration tests?

Social engineering is legal in penetration tests only when explicitly authorized in the scope agreement. Testers must operate under strict legal and ethical guidelines to avoid privacy violations.

Why is the reporting phase important in penetration testing stages?

The reporting phase in penetration testing stages is essential because it translates technical findings into actionable insights. A well-structured report includes risk ratings, exploitation methods, and remediation recommendations, enabling security teams and stakeholders to make informed decisions and strengthen defences.

What tools are commonly used during the standard penetration testing lifecycle?

During the standard penetration testing lifecycle, ethical hackers use a range of tools across each stage. Reconnaissance may involve tools like Nmap and Maltego; vulnerability scanning uses Nessus or OpenVAS; exploitation is often done with Metasploit or Burp Suite. These tools support each phase, from discovery to reporting, ensuring a thorough and methodical assessment.

What are the stages of penetration testing?

What is the difference between internal and external penetration testing?

Is social engineering legal in penetration tests?

Social engineering is legal in penetration tests only when explicitly authorized in the scope agreement. Testers must operate under strict legal and ethical guidelines to avoid privacy violations.

Why is the reporting phase important in penetration testing stages?

What tools are commonly used during the standard penetration testing lifecycle?