Penetration testing is a critical process that involves simulating hacking attacks on an organization's systems, networks, and applications to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It helps protect against unauthorized access by malicious actors, reduces cyber risk, and satisfies stakeholder requirements. The benefits of penetration testing include analysis of IT infrastructure, protection from financial damage, protection of client data and partnerships, protection of company image and reputation, and compliance with regulations and security certification. To get started with penetration testing, organizations should gather information about their systems, scan for vulnerabilities, exploit weaknesses, generate reports, and translate data into action steps for increased security. It is essential to hire reputable pen testers who are thorough and methodical and have strong communication skills. Organizations can also consider crowdsourced penetration testing, which has been shown to identify on average 7X more high-priority vulnerabilities than traditional penetration tests.