Real-World Success Stories of Penetration Testing
                     Real-World Success Stories 
of Penetration Testing: How 
It Can Help Your Business
Introduction
• Penetration testing is a type of 
security testing used by 
corporations to assess the 
security of their information 
systems.
• It is a simulated and authorised 
cyber attack on a system to 
uncover vulnerabilities and 
security holes, which can be 
exploited by unscrupulous actors 
to gain unauthorised access to 
sensitive data.
The Equifax Data 
Breach
• The Equifax data breach in 2017 was one of the 
most significant data breaches in history.
• Equifax hired a third-party vendor to conduct a 
penetration test on its systems, but the vendor 
failed to identify a critical vulnerability in 
Equifax's web application framework, Apache 
Struts.
• This vulnerability allowed attackers to gain access 
to the company's sensitive data, leading to 
Equifax paying out $700 million in fines and 
settlements.
The DDoS Attack on 
Dyn
• Dyn, a DNS provider, experienced a DDoS attack 
in 2016, causing major disruptions to popular 
websites.
• After the attack, Dyn hired a team of experts to 
conduct a penetration test on its systems, which 
identified several vulnerabilities that could have 
been exploited by the attackers.
• The test helped Dyn improve its cybersecurity 
posture and prepare for any future attacks.
The Target Data 
Breach
• Target suffered a data breach in 2013, which 
compromised the personal and financial 
information of 40 million customers.
• Target was able to address these vulnerabilities 
and improve its security posture, but if it had 
conducted a penetration test before the breach, it 
would have been able to identify and address the 
vulnerabilities.
• As a result, Target paid out $18.5 million in 
settlements.
The Canadian Government 
Cybersecurity Breach
• In 2019, the Canadian government experienced a 
cybersecurity breach that compromised the 
personal information of 9,041 individuals.
• A team of experts conducted a penetration test on 
its systems, which identified several vulnerabilities 
that could have been exploited by attackers.
• This test allowed the government to identify and 
address these vulnerabilities before any further 
attacks could occur, as well as improve its 
cybersecurity posture and prepare for future 
attacks.
The Ransomware 
Attack on Norsk Hydro
• Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminum company, 
suffered a ransomware attack in 2019.
• After the attack, Norsk Hydro hired a team of 
experts to conduct a penetration test on its 
systems.
• This helped Norsk Hydro improve its 
cybersecurity posture and prepare for any future 
attacks. 
lessons that businesses can learn 
from these success stories:
• Conduct regular penetration testing
• Work with a reputable penetration testing 
service provider
• Remediate vulnerabilities promptly
• Use the results of the penetration test to 
improve cybersecurity posture
Conclusion
• Penetration testing is essential for 
businesses to identify vulnerabilities 
and security gaps that could be 
exploited by malicious actors. It can 
save businesses from costly data 
breaches and other cybersecurity 
incidents. Businesses should conduct 
regular penetration testing, work with 
reputable service providers, remediate 
vulnerabilities promptly, and use the 
results to improve their cybersecurity 
posture.
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