How to Create a Killer Pentest Report
A Practitioner’s Guide for Automating Powerful, High-Quality Reports
An effective pentest report is a critical tool for organizations to quickly identify and address security vulnerabilities. But creating an accurate, comprehensive report can be daunting — especially if it’s done manually.
What makes a powerful pentest report?
Pentest report success in 5 steps:
STEP 1: Prepare
Define the purpose and scope of your report and gather all the necessary data and findings in a structured manner.
STEP 3: Present
Data Effectively
Communicate vulnerabilities using non-technical language where appropriate for diverse audiences and support findings with evidence, such as screenshots, code snippets, and metrics.
STEP 5: Finalize
Review and proofread the report for quality assurance before delivering it.
STEP 2: Organize
Write an executive summary, introduce the methodology, present findings with risk assessment, provide recommendations, and document the validation steps.
STEP 4: Ensure
Completeness
and Accuracy
Provide mitigation steps and impact assessment for decision-makers while also verifying accuracy, referencing sources, and offering an overview for non-technical stakeholders.
PlexTrac Author
At PlexTrac, we bring together insights from a diverse range of voices. Our blog features contributions from industry experts, ethical hackers, CTOs, influencers, and PlexTrac team members—all sharing valuable perspectives on cybersecurity, pentesting, and risk management.