T0Offensive Security Fundamentals
The penetration-test lifecycle
The arc every engagement follows: scoping, recon, enumeration, exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting and retest, and what done looks like in each phase.
Foundational3 min readfoundation streamUpdated Sat Aug 01 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Part ofSilver Path (SOCA)
Learning objectives
- Name the phases of a penetration test in order and state the goal of each.
- Explain why post-exploitation loops back into recon and enumeration.
- Distinguish a one-off engagement from a continuous one.
- Identify which phases AI accelerates and which demand human judgement.
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