What is a key outcome of a penetration test?

A key outcome of a penetration test is a report detailing vulnerabilities discovered and recommendations for remediation. This report serves as a comprehensive overview of the security posture of an organization after the penetration testing has been conducted.

The penetration testing process simulates real-world attacks to identify weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications. By documenting the vulnerabilities found during the testing, the report helps organizations understand their risks and the potential impact of those vulnerabilities being exploited by an attacker. Additionally, the recommendations for remediation are crucial as they provide actionable steps that an organization can take to mitigate those identified vulnerabilities, thus improving their overall security.

The other options, while they relate to security and training, do not directly represent the primary intent and outcome of a penetration test. A report outlining vulnerabilities and remediation strategies is specifically tailored to address the findings from the testing process, making it the most relevant and critical outcome of a penetration test.