What Happens When You Fix All the Pen Test Findings?
At Mile High Cyber, one of the most common questions we hear from clients is: “What happens after we fix everything from our penetration test?” It’s a fair question — after all, if you've remediated every vulnerability identified during a security assessment, shouldn't your systems now be secure?
The short answer: you’re safer, but you're not done.
Penetration testing isn’t a one-time fix. It’s an ongoing security discipline — a key part of cybersecurity maintenance, not just a checkbox on a compliance list. Here’s why.
Pen Testing Is a Snapshot in Time
A penetration test reveals what attackers could exploit at the moment the test was conducted. It’s a snapshot — not a full security movie.
After the test is complete and the findings are addressed, many of those vulnerabilities may be resolved. But your environment doesn’t stay static:
New vulnerabilities are discovered constantly — software updates can introduce new flaws, and third-party components often bring risk.
System configurations change — new users are added, new systems deployed, and firewall or IAM rules evolve.
Attack techniques evolve — threat actors refine their methods, and tools that were once harmless become vectors of exploitation.
That means the security gaps of today may be very different from those of yesterday.
The First Test Finds the Low-Hanging Fruit
Initial penetration tests often uncover a lot of "low-hanging fruit": easily exploitable misconfigurations, exposed services, default credentials, or missing patches. These findings are valuable because they represent quick wins — security gaps that attackers could take advantage of with little effort.
But after those are cleaned up?
The next test becomes more challenging — and more interesting. The low-hanging fruit is gone, so penetration testers have to dig deeper. They’ll:
Chain together multiple lower-risk issues to demonstrate real-world exploit paths
Identify logic flaws in applications and workflows
Explore more complex attack surfaces like Active Directory, cloud misconfigurations, or lateral movement pathways
This is where skilled human testers shine — where automated scanners fall short, and deep technical experience is required.
Pen Testing as a Cybersecurity Maintenance Best Practice
Think of penetration testing like regular health checkups. You don’t go to the doctor once and assume you’ll stay healthy forever. Likewise, cybersecurity requires ongoing vigilance.
At Mile High Cyber, we recommend organizations incorporate regular penetration testing into their security lifecycle:
Annually, to assess risk posture and test improvements
After major infrastructure changes, such as migrations to cloud services or new product deployments
Following mergers, acquisitions, or compliance shifts
In response to threat intelligence, such as rising ransomware or supply chain attacks targeting your industry
Each test builds upon the last. It’s not just about identifying vulnerabilities — it's about continuously maturing your defenses and staying one step ahead of adversaries.
How Mile High Cyber Helps
We don’t just test and walk away. We partner with you to strengthen your cybersecurity posture over time. Our penetration testing services are:
Clear and actionable — we explain what matters and how to fix it
Tailored to your environment — cloud, on-prem, hybrid, or OT
Repeatable and measurable — allowing you to track improvements year over year
When you fix all the findings, that's progress. But it's also a starting point for deeper testing, sharper defenses, and a smarter security strategy.
Contact us today to learn more about engaging Mile High Cyber for a penetration test.