What are the best ways to communicate penetration test results to stakeholders?

1 Know your audience

Before you prepare your report or presentation, you need to know who your audience is and what they expect from you. Different stakeholders may have different levels of technical knowledge, interest, and responsibility for the network security. For example, senior managers may only want a high-level summary of the findings and the business impact, while IT staff may need more details on the technical aspects and remediation steps. Therefore, you should tailor your communication to suit your audience's needs and preferences, and avoid using jargon or acronyms that they may not understand.

2 Choose the right format

The format of your communication is determined by the purpose, scope, and complexity of the penetration test, as well as the preferences of your audience. An executive summary can be a useful option for senior managers or executives who need a concise overview of the penetration test results. Technical reports are beneficial for IT staff or technical experts who require more information on the technical aspects and solutions. Additionally, presentations provide a visual and interactive way to present the penetration test results, such as slides, graphs, charts, or screenshots. This can be helpful for engaging your audience and demonstrating the impact and severity of the findings, as well as the recommendations and remediation steps.

3 Use clear and consistent language

The language you use to communicate your penetration test results should be clear, concise, and consistent. You should avoid using vague or ambiguous terms that may confuse or mislead your audience, and use specific and accurate terms that describe the findings and recommendations. You should also use a consistent terminology and format throughout your communication, and explain any acronyms or technical terms that your audience may not be familiar with. For example, you should use the same rating system to classify the findings by their severity, such as low, medium, high, or critical, and explain what each rating means.

4 Highlight the risks and recommendations

One of the main goals of communicating your penetration test results is to persuade your audience to take action on the findings and improve the network security. Therefore, you should highlight the risks and recommendations for each finding, and explain how they affect the network and the business. You should also prioritize the findings by their severity and urgency, and provide a clear and realistic timeline for implementing the recommendations and remediation steps. You should also provide evidence and examples to support your claims, such as screenshots, logs, or code snippets.

5 Follow up and feedback

After you communicate your penetration test results, you should follow up with your audience and provide feedback and support. You should check if your audience understood your communication and if they have any questions or concerns. You should also monitor the progress and status of the recommendations and remediation steps, and provide updates and guidance as needed. You should also solicit feedback from your audience on the quality and effectiveness of your communication, and use it to improve your future communication.