Best Mitigating Control for Reducing Penetration Testing Risk

A.

Penetration testing is a method used to identify vulnerabilities in a system or network by attempting to exploit them. Although penetration testing is an essential process to help organizations identify and mitigate security risks, it can also introduce risks, especially if not conducted correctly.

The BEST mitigating control to reduce the risk introduced when conducting penetration tests is to clearly define the project scope (Option A). Defining the scope of the project ensures that the penetration testing activity only targets systems and components that have been identified and authorized for testing, reducing the potential for collateral damage and unintended consequences.

Performing background checks on the vendor (Option B) could help to identify potential conflicts of interest or other issues that could affect the integrity of the testing process. However, this control is not directly related to reducing the risks introduced by the penetration testing activity.

Notifying network administrators before testing (Option C) can help to prevent false alarms and reduce the potential for disruption of the systems being tested. However, this control does not directly reduce the risks introduced by penetration testing.

Requiring the vendor to sign a nondisclosure agreement (Option D) can help to protect the confidentiality of the information discovered during penetration testing. However, this control does not directly reduce the risks introduced by the testing process.

In conclusion, while all of the options presented may have some value as controls, the BEST mitigating control to reduce the risks introduced when conducting penetration tests is to clearly define the project scope.