Penetration testing (aka pentesting or ethical hacking) might sound intense—and honestly, it is—but think of it as your digital stress test. Ethical hackers mimic real cyberattacks on your systems to find weak spots before the bad guys do. The coolest part? Pen tests come in different flavors, each targeting specific risks. So, how do you know when it’s time for a pentest? How often should you schedule them? And which one is right for your business?

As companies continue to integrate their operational technology (OT) and IT environments, they’re coming to grips with the fact that this move opens them up to new avenues for cyber threats. The solution is multi-faceted, but one aspect is clear: combining OT and IT requires extending offensive security measures, such as penetration testing, to the OT environment.