Security terms in plain words.

Terms

Vulnerability

a weakness that could be misused.

Penetration test

an authorised, controlled attempt to use weaknesses.

Vulnerability assessment

a broad search for and ranking of weaknesses.

API

a way for one piece of software to ask another for data.

Attack surface

everything of yours that can be reached from outside.

Prompt injection

crafted instructions that change how an AI system behaves.

Retest

a follow-up check that a fix worked.

Scope

the list of systems and methods agreed for an assessment.

Remediation

fixing a weakness.