In this lesson, we're going to talk
about the Executive Summary portion of a penetration test.
An executive summary is a high level
and concise overview of the penetration test,
its findings and their impact.
It's designed to provide a summary
of the process and rules,
including a brief and simple explanation
of the procedures used, important findings explained
in a non-technical manner and some of their implications.
An Executive Summary typically ranges
from two paragraphs to two pages,
depending on what the client wanted done,
the industry and the size of the organization,
and other factors.
The goal is to communicate the essential information
to stakeholders who may not have the technical background
to understand the detailed findings,
but need to know the overall security posture
of the organization.
The Executive Summary should begin with a brief description
of the purpose and scope of the PenTest.
This includes what was tested, why it was tested,
and the overall objectives of the engagement.
It's important to clearly outline the goals
to provide context for the findings.
Next, you should provide a summary of the methods used.
This doesn't need to be detailed,
but should mention the general approach
and any specific frameworks or standards followed,
such as the PTES,
known as the Penetration Testing Execution Standard.
This helps stakeholders understand
the flow of the testing procedures.
The core of the Executive Summary is the findings section.
Here, you should highlight the most significant
vulnerabilities discovered during the test.
Each finding should be described in a non-technical manner.
Focus on what was found, why it matters,
and the potential impact on the organization.
Avoid jargon and technical details
that might confuse non-technical readers.
For example, instead of saying,
"We discovered a SQL injection vulnerability
in the web application,"
you might say, "we found a vulnerability that could allow
an attacker to access sensitive information
from the database."
This way, the impact is clear
without needing detailed technical knowledge.
Finally, the Executive Summary should conclude
with a general statement
about the overall security posture of the organization.
This might sound something like,
"In conclusion, the network, systems and processes have
been found to be insecure due
to several critical vulnerabilities
that need immediate attention."
Alternatively, if the findings were positive,
you could conclude with,
"In conclusion, the network systems
and processes have been found to be secure
with only minor issues that should be addressed
to maintain this status."
Including a conclusion statement helps to provide closure
and clear takeaways for the stakeholders.
It's a way to get straight to the point
and summarize the overall results and the urgency
of anything that needs to be done.
So remember, the executive summary is
a vital part of the Penetration Test Report,
because it's often the only part that senior management
and other non-technical stakeholders will read.
It needs to be clear, concise, and focus on the key points
to effectively communicate the results
and their implications.