Presenting penetration testing findings to non-technical clients

As part of my Security Testing module, I completed a comprehensive penetration testing project that required not only technical expertise in identifying vulnerabilities, but also the critical skill of presenting complex security findings to non-technical clients. This project demonstrated my ability to bridge the gap between deep technical analysis and executive-level communication—essential skills for a Systems Engineer.

Project Overview

The assignment involved:

Conducting a full penetration test on a target web application
Identifying and documenting security vulnerabilities
Creating a technical report with detailed findings
Presenting findings to non-technical clients using analogies and business language

The challenge wasn't just finding vulnerabilities—it was explaining them in a way that non-technical stakeholders could understand, appreciate the business impact, and make informed decisions about remediation.

Technical Work: Penetration Testing

Reconnaissance & Discovery

Network scanning and service enumeration using Nmap
Web application mapping and technology stack identification
Directory and file discovery
Authentication and authorization mechanism analysis

Vulnerability Assessment

SQL Injection: Identified multiple SQL injection points in user input fields
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Found stored and reflected XSS vulnerabilities
Authentication Bypass: Discovered weak session management and authentication flaws
Network Security Issues: Identified misconfigured network services and exposed ports
Information Disclosure: Found sensitive data exposure in error messages and responses

Tools & Techniques

Burp Suite for web application testing
Nmap for network scanning and service detection
SQLMap for automated SQL injection testing
Wireshark for network traffic analysis
Custom Python scripts for automated testing

The Communication Challenge

The most significant aspect of this project was the presentation requirement: explaining technical security findings to clients who had no cybersecurity background. This required:

Understanding the Audience

Business Stakeholders: Focused on business impact, costs, and risk
Non-Technical Decision Makers: Needed clear, actionable information
Time Constraints: Limited attention span for technical details

Translation Strategy

I developed a communication approach using analogies and business-focused language:

Example 1: SQL Injection Explained

Technical Explanation: "SQL injection occurs when user input is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries."

Client-Friendly Analogy: "Imagine your application's database is a bank vault. SQL injection is like leaving the vault door unlocked with a note saying 'Please enter your account number.' An attacker can write 'account number OR 1=1' which tricks the system into thinking they're authorized, giving them access to all accounts—not just theirs. It's like a master key that works on every lock."

Business Impact: "This vulnerability could allow attackers to access all customer data, including personal information and payment details. The potential cost includes regulatory fines (GDPR), customer trust loss, and legal liability."

Example 2: Network Security Issues

Technical Explanation: "Port 22 (SSH) and port 3306 (MySQL) are exposed to the internet without proper access controls, allowing potential brute-force attacks."

Client-Friendly Analogy: "Think of your network like an office building. Right now, you have doors (ports) that are supposed to be locked, but they're actually open to anyone on the street. Attackers can try thousands of different keys (passwords) until they find one that works. It's like leaving your office building unlocked 24/7—eventually, someone will get in."

Business Impact: "An attacker gaining access through these ports could compromise your entire database, potentially leading to data breach, service disruption, and significant recovery costs."

Example 3: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Technical Explanation: "Stored XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in other users' browsers when they view the affected page."

Client-Friendly Analogy: "Imagine your website is a restaurant, and user comments are like notes left on tables. XSS is like someone writing a note that says 'When the next customer reads this, steal their wallet.' The restaurant (your website) displays the note to every customer, and their browser automatically follows the malicious instructions. It's like a virus that spreads through your website to your customers."

Business Impact: "This could allow attackers to steal customer login credentials, session tokens, or personal information, leading to account takeovers and potential financial fraud."

Presentation Approach

Visual Aids

Diagrams: Network architecture diagrams showing attack vectors
Flowcharts: Step-by-step attack scenarios in simple visual format
Risk Matrix: Color-coded risk levels (Critical, High, Medium, Low) with business impact
Before/After Comparisons: Visual representations of current state vs. secured state

Structure

Executive Summary: High-level overview in business language
Risk Overview: Business impact of each vulnerability category
Technical Details (Optional): Available for technical staff who want deeper information
Remediation Roadmap: Prioritized recommendations with estimated effort and cost
Q&A: Addressing client questions using analogies and examples

Key Communication Principles Applied

Start with Business Impact: Always lead with "what this means for your business"
Use Analogies: Relate technical concepts to familiar real-world scenarios
Avoid Jargon: Replace technical terms with plain language
Visual Communication: Use diagrams and visuals instead of technical text
Prioritize by Risk: Focus on what matters most to the business
Provide Solutions: Don't just identify problems—present clear remediation paths

Skills Demonstrated

Technical Expertise

Comprehensive penetration testing methodology
Network security analysis
Web application security testing
Vulnerability identification and documentation

Presentation Skills

Whiteboarding: Used diagrams and visual explanations during presentations
Adaptive Communication: Adjusted technical depth based on audience questions
Confidence: Presented complex findings clearly and answered questions effectively
Engagement: Kept non-technical audiences engaged through analogies and business focus

Solution Design

Risk Prioritization: Categorized vulnerabilities by business impact, not just technical severity
Remediation Planning: Developed actionable remediation recommendations
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Presented security improvements in terms of business value

Customer-Focused Approach

Empathy: Understood that clients needed to make business decisions, not just technical ones
Clarity: Ensured clients fully understood risks and remediation options
Actionability: Provided clear next steps and recommendations

Key Learnings

Communication is as Important as Technical Skills: Finding vulnerabilities is only half the job—explaining them effectively is equally critical
Analogies Bridge the Gap: Technical concepts become accessible when related to familiar scenarios
Business Context Matters: Technical severity doesn't always equal business priority—understanding business impact is essential
Visual Communication Works: Diagrams and visual aids are more effective than technical explanations for non-technical audiences
Preparation is Key: Anticipating questions and preparing analogies in advance makes presentations more effective
Confidence Builds Trust: Presenting with confidence and clarity helps clients trust your recommendations

Relevance to Systems Engineering

This project directly demonstrates skills essential for a Systems Engineer role:

Presentation & Whiteboarding

Technical Presentations: Proved ability to present complex security findings to diverse audiences
Visual Communication: Used diagrams and whiteboarding to explain technical concepts
Adaptive Communication: Adjusted technical depth based on audience needs

Customer Communication

Non-Technical Audiences: Demonstrated ability to communicate with business stakeholders
Business Language: Translated technical details into business-focused language
Stakeholder Management: Addressed concerns and questions from diverse perspectives

Solution Design

Risk-Based Prioritization: Categorized issues by business impact
Remediation Planning: Developed actionable security solutions
Business Alignment: Aligned technical recommendations with business needs

Technical Depth

Network Security: Demonstrated understanding of network-level security issues
Application Security: Showed expertise in web application security testing
Comprehensive Analysis: Conducted thorough security assessments

Conclusion

This penetration testing project was a formative experience that combined technical expertise with essential communication skills. It proved that I can not only identify and analyze security vulnerabilities but also present them effectively to non-technical clients—using analogies, business language, and visual aids to bridge the gap between technical depth and business understanding. These skills are exactly what a Systems Engineer needs: the ability to understand complex technical problems, design solutions, and communicate them clearly to help customers make informed decisions about their security posture.