First Penetration Test: 7 Unexpected Takeaways for Clients

Many companies postpone penetration testing due to fears, distrust of contractors, or reluctance to invest in cybersecurity. However, the first pentest often delivers unexpected results that force a complete rethink of security strategies. Datami shares key takeaways from real client experiences.

1. Vulnerabilities were hidden in outdated systems

Outdated software is a common cause of system “holes” and, consequently, breaches. These are often old versions of libraries and plugins, test environments, or archived servers that are no longer in use but remain externally accessible. Such vulnerabilities are typically discovered quickly during penetration tests.

2. Employees became an unexpected threat

According to various studies, the human factor is the cause of security breaches in 60% of incidents. Employees often open malicious attachments or click on phishing links. 

"Even the most advanced and expensive security systems can suffer from such issues. People often become the primary vector for cyberattacks, which is why regular training and staff education are so important," emphasizes Oleksandr Filipov, a security engineer at Datami.

3. The system was unprotected due to misconfiguration

Even with modern security tools in place, there is no guarantee that they are properly configured. Approximately 80% of technical vulnerabilities are caused by incorrect settings in identity and credential configurations. This sometimes leads to security mechanisms not functioning as intended, and a pentest helps to identify and fix such flaws.

4. An attack could have started with something minor

A significant number of cyber incidents begin with the exploitation of subtle entry points - weak passwords, open ports, misconfigured services, and more. For example, a forgotten test environment or an open Wi-Fi router can become an entry point for an attacker. That’s why a security audit is so important.

5. A breach can happen very quickly

Research from 2025 shows concerning statistics: passwords are often cracked instantly, as they remain one of the weakest points in security systems. And that’s just one of the ways a system can be quickly breached.

"It all depends on the hacker’s skill and experience, which determine the techniques and tools used. If the target system has a ‘hole,’ the breach really can happen fast. Often, the attack is only noticed at the final stage - when the data has already been extracted and the system is no longer needed by the hacker," says Oleksandr.

6. Surprisingly detailed report and recommendations from pentesters

A quality report from professional pentesters doesn’t just list vulnerabilities - it includes detailed technical descriptions, risk levels for the business, and practical recommendations. In reality, such a document is a critically important part of testing, as it gives the company a concrete basis for significantly strengthening its security.

7. Pentesting costs less than the consequences of an attack

In the event of a cyberattack, a company may suffer enormous financial losses, incomparable to the cost of testing and proactively addressing vulnerabilities. A simple example: as of early 2024, the average cost of a data breach in the U.S. was $9.36 million.

No one is immune to hackers’ actions, so it’s essential to regularly check your system’s security and develop a response plan to recover quickly and effectively in the event of an incident.