Are there legal requirements for penetration tests?

While there is typically no explicit requirement from legislators for companies to conduct penetration tests, it may be implicitly required to implement security measures such as penetration testing to comply with different legal provisions and industry standards.

For example, data protection regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union or industry-specific requirements such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) may include mandates for regular security assessments and penetration tests.

The need for penetration testing can also arise from other legal obligations, such as liability or duty of care. Companies processing sensitive data or operating critical infrastructures often seek to conduct penetration tests to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.

Overall, it is important for companies to be aware of the legal requirements and industry standards that apply to them and to ensure they implement appropriate security measures, which may include penetration testing.