Definition

Penetration is a security event—or a series of related events—in which an unauthorized actor gains, or attempts to gain, access to a protected system, network, or digital resource. These events are typically the result of exploiting system vulnerabilities, weak or stolen credentials, social engineering tactics, or insufficient endpoint protections. Even if the attempt fails, a penetration effort is still considered a serious security incident because it demonstrates a breach in perimeter defense or a lapse in policy enforcement. Successful penetrations can result in data theft, ransomware attacks, infrastructure sabotage, or compliance violations with regulations like HIPAA, NIST, or GDPR.

Organizations must treat penetration events as critical warnings. Whether originating from external attackers or insider threats, these incidents often serve as entry points to larger attacks. Therefore, establishing proactive access control and real-time monitoring is essential to prevent escalation.

GateKeeper Proximity Helps Prevent Unauthorized Penetration Attempts

GateKeeper Proximity strengthens your organization’s defense against penetration attempts by eliminating one of the most common attack vectors: password-based authentication. Instead of relying on static credentials, users authenticate using a secure, wireless proximity token that enables multi-factor authentication without the need to type or transmit passwords. This significantly reduces the risk of password guessing, phishing, credential stuffing, and other intrusion tactics that depend on compromised credentials.

In addition, GateKeeper automatically locks workstations when users leave their physical proximity, ensuring that unattended endpoints are never left exposed. Combined with centralized access management through GateKeeper Hub, administrators can monitor login activity, detect anomalies, and revoke access in real-time. By enforcing presence-based access control and eliminating human error in password handling, GateKeeper becomes an essential part of any modern defense-in-depth strategy designed to prevent system penetration and data compromise.