Network Penetration Testing in the Age of Automation: A Conversation with an Ethical Hacker

For decades, businesses have employed penetration testing, simulating cyberattacks on their IT systems—to uncover vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. Traditionally, this process was manual, requiring skilled professionals to probe defenses meticulously, look for any chink in the security armor, and use creativity, technical expertise, and an understanding of attacker strategies. While effective, manual testing can be time-consuming and costly.

Today, technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, have transformed the landscape. Automated network penetration testing tools streamline vulnerability discovery by scripting repetitive tasks and running them on a schedule, making regular testing more accessible, even for smaller organizations.

Information Security Buzz spoke with Alton Johnson, an ethical hacker who began his journey at the age of 11 and has become a leader in penetration testing. After gaining experience at several top cybersecurity firms, Johnson created his own automated network pen testing tool ...