I recently got a job offer for a penetration tester role, but my background is in standard automation testing. I’m wondering how security testing fits into the QA process. Is penetration testing considered a part of QA, or is it a completely separate discipline? Understanding what is penetration testing in software testing will help me decide how to approach this new role and whether it aligns with traditional QA responsibilities.
Hey, from my experience diving into this field, what is penetration testing in software testing really comes down to trying to break into the software just like a hacker would.
It’s a security-focused test where you look for vulnerabilities, things like loopholes, data leaks, or weak points that could be exploited by attackers. The goal is to find these issues before someone with malicious intent does, so you can fix them early and keep the system safe.
Building on that, I’ve worked alongside both QA and security teams, and I’d say what is penetration testing in software testing is somewhat of a hybrid. It’s definitely connected to software quality because security is part of overall quality, but pen testing tends to be a specialized discipline.
QA traditionally focuses more on functionality, performance, and usability, while penetration testing zeroes in on digging deep into security defenses. So, it’s usually handled by security experts, but it complements QA efforts by addressing those critical security risks.
From my background bridging automation and security testing, I’d add that what is penetration testing in software testing is really a mindset shift. Moving from automation testing to penetration testing means adopting a hacker’s perspective, thinking creatively about how someone might exploit vulnerabilities.
While it isn’t fully within the traditional QA scope, security testing has become a vital part of the software quality landscape. Penetration testing complements QA by ensuring the software isn’t just functional but also resilient against attacks, which is crucial in today’s environment.