Penetration testing is the process of simulating cyber attacks on an organization's systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities, protect against malicious hackers, and ensure compliance with security standards. It involves various types of tests, including network security testing, cloud security testing, web application testing, IoT security testing, social engineering testing, API pen tests, and more. Penetration testing is a crucial cybersecurity best practice that helps organizations protect their assets, customer data, reduce cyber risk, satisfy stakeholders and compliance requirements, and preserve their image and reputation. The frequency of penetration testing depends on the type of test, with internal testing being the most frequent, followed by crowdsourced testing, and traditional penetration testing being the least frequent. Crowdsourced testing has gained popularity due to its rapid setup and deployment, real-time results, SDLC integration, and flexible API. It is also more cost-effective than traditional penetration testing services, offering higher-quality results and a faster path to compliance.