New CISOs often face overwhelming challenges, short tenures, and unclear environments, making penetration testing an essential early priority. Unlike vulnerability assessments, which are broad but shallow, pen testing provides deep insights into how vulnerabilities can be exploited and the potential impact. Many organizations skip testing for speed, but new CISOs should adopt smaller, earlier testing stages over time. Pen testing also helps with asset discovery, revealing unknown systems and risks, and serves as a quick guide to evaluate patches, passwords, and policies. Properly executed, it equips new CISOs with vital knowledge to manage risk effectively.

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