Penetration Testing Services

Authorised simulated cyberattacks by ethical hackers to uncover vulnerabilities in your networks, web applications, cloud infrastructure, and IT environment, before malicious hackers can exploit them. Expert manual penetration testing for UK organisations.

Why Regular Penetration Testing Matters

The 2022 Royal Mail ransomware attack and the 2023 MOVEit supply chain breach both demonstrate how untested systems become easy targets for real-world attacks. For UK organisations in 2026, firewalls and antivirus software alone no longer provide adequate protection against sophisticated cyber threats, including zero-day exploits and supply chain compromises.

Irregular or one-off testing creates extended windows of exposure where emerging threats can appear and remain unchecked. Regular penetration testing is now mandatory for compliance with PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 and is increasingly demanded by cyber insurers and enterprise procurement teams.

£3.4M+

Average data breach remediation cost for UK organisations

4% GTR

Maximum GDPR fine of global annual turnover for data breaches

30–40%

Customer trust erosion following a confirmed security breach

Weeks

Operational disruption halting services after an undetected breach

What Is a Penetration Test?

A penetration test is an authorised, simulated cyber attack against computer systems, applications, and people to identify and safely exploit security vulnerabilities. Unlike vulnerability scanning, pen testing is goal-driven; testers aim to achieve specific objectives such as gaining access to payroll data or escalating privileges to domain admin.

The penetration testing process follows structured phases including planning, reconnaissance, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, and post-exploitation. Black Box, White Box, and Grey Box methodologies are selected based on the tester’s prior knowledge of the target environment.

Common scopes include internet-facing assets, internal corporate networks, cloud platforms, web applications, APIs, and OT/ICS systems. Conducting regular penetration tests helps organisations identify security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them, keeping your business secure and your security posture strong.

Key Characteristics of a True Pen Test

Structured phases per the PTES framework
AI powered humans carrying out the test
Manual exploitation combined with automated tools
Explicit rules of engagement and legal authorisation
Risk-rated findings with proof-of-concept evidence
Retesting to validate fixes and address vulnerabilities
Detailed report, executive summary plus technical sections
Goal-driven: testers aim to gain access to critical assets
Coverage of web applications, APIs, networks, and cloud

Our Penetration Testing Methodology

Our methodology follows CREST, NCSC, and industry standards, including PTES and OWASP. Every engagement blends manual penetration testing with automated tools and scenario-based attack paths tailored to your business and includes safe working practices such as change windows, test data, and explicit stop conditions to prevent unplanned outages.

01

Scoping & Objectives

A 60–90 minute scoping workshop captures in-scope domains, IP ranges, cloud accounts, key applications, data sensitivity, test windows, and escalation contacts. Output: a signed Statement of Work fixing scope, timelines, and rules of engagement.

02

Reconnaissance & Mapping

Open-source intelligence from DNS records, certificate transparency logs, and professional networks identifies potential attack vectors. Fingerprinting scans reveal software versions, misconfigurations, and network topology to build a complete picture of your attack surface.

03

Vulnerability Analysis

Commercial and open-source tools combined with manual checks uncover security vulnerabilities, missing patches, weak access controls, default credentials, and exposed admin interfaces. Findings are validated to remove false positives; only exploitable issues progress. Proactive vulnerability discovery here uncovers security flaws that automated scans often miss.

04

Exploitation & Privilege Escalation

Testers chain multiple low-risk issues into high-impact compromises; for example, information leakage combined with weak passwords and misconfigured MFA to gain access to domain admin. High-risk actions are pre-agreed and often simulated using test data to keep your business protected.

05

Lateral Movement & Persistence

On internal and red team assessment engagements, testers attempt lateral movement to higher-value critical assets. This reveals how far a determined attacker could go after the initial foothold, exposing weak network segmentation, credential reuse on external networks, and legacy system vulnerabilities.

06

Reporting, Debrief & Retesting

A detailed report with executive summary and technical findings is delivered in 5–7 working days. Critical vulnerabilities receive immediate notification. A live walkthrough debrief helps stakeholders interpret results. Retesting within 30–90 days validates that fixes are effective and that you can remediate vulnerabilities correctly.

Types of Penetration Testing Services

Penetration testing services encompass various types of assessments, from network and web application testing to cloud security, mobile testing, social engineering, and continuous PTaaS models. Most UK organisations use a mix throughout the year, guided by risk profile, compliance requirements, and the sensitivity of their critical assets.

Simulates attacks on both internal and external networks to identify misconfigurations, exposed services, legacy system vulnerabilities, and privilege escalation paths across your IT infrastructure and hybrid environments.

Identifies OWASP vulnerabilities, logic flaws, injection issues, and broken access control in websites, portals, and APIs, including modern frameworks. Essential security testing after any major deployment of web apps or API updates.

Often Missed!

Coverage of iOS and Android applications, authentication flows, local data storage, and backend APIs. Uncovers insecure data storage, weak certificate pinning, API key leakage, and sensitive data exposure.

Assesses AWS, Azure, and GCP environments for IAM misconfigurations, open storage buckets, container cluster vulnerabilities, and over-privileged service accounts, aligned with CIS benchmarks and the shared responsibility model.

Real People Testing Your People & Your Systems!

Simulates real-world cyberattacks combining phishing campaigns, vishing, and physical access testing where lawful. Multi-week red team assessment engagements test an organisation’s defences against sophisticated, persistent threat actors.

Penetration Testing as a Service combines scheduled manual tests with continuous automated scanning. Clients access results through web portals for real-time reporting, with ticketing integrations enabling faster remediation and ongoing assurance.

Grey Box testing gives our testers the kind of limited access a real attacker might already have: a standard user account or basic network credentials, making it the most realistic and cost-effective methodology for most organisations. Rather than spending time on reconnaissance, testers focus straight away on exploitation and privilege escalation to determine whether your internal controls hold once someone is already inside.

Lateral movement and privilege escalation attempts across your network
Credential validation against internal systems, including cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 or G-Suite
Testing of access controls, user permissions, and segmentation boundaries
Identification of what a compromised account could realistically access or exfiltrate

How to Choose the Right Penetration Testing Provider

The cheapest penetration testing company is rarely the best choice. When selecting pen test partners, focus on capability, methodology, and reporting quality. Specialist penetration testing providers offer independence, exposure to current attack techniques, specialist tooling, and knowledge of emerging threats that internal teams may lack. Reports from accredited testers demonstrate due diligence at board level.

CREST accreditation, the recognised quality standard for pentesting services
Consultant certifications: OSCP, OSWE, CRT for manual penetration testing
ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certification held by the provider
Proven experience with your specific technology stack and sector
Enforceable code of conduct and quality assurance processes
Track record with UK organisations in regulated industries

Fixed-price projects, day rates (UK average £800–£1,500/day), or PTaaS subscriptions
Clear written scope covering IPs, apps, user roles, and test methods
Reporting timelines, slow reporting leaves businesses exposed to key risks longer
Retesting to validate fixes included in the engagement scope
Transparent pricing for future testing requirements with no hidden charges
Flexible scheduling aligned with compliance requirements and release cycles

Dedicated contacts with clear escalation paths for critical vulnerabilities
Post-test debrief workshops to help your team remediate vulnerabilities
Multi-year roadmaps covering evolving threats and future testing requirements
Direct access to consultants for real-time clarification and remediation advice
Collaborative approach to vulnerability management, not just transactional
Integration with your incident response and change management processes

Luckily, we have all of this covered if you're looking for a provider!
We're following the National Cyber Security Centre's (NSCS) Advice on being a great IT Support provider.

Common Vulnerabilities Uncovered During Penetration Testing

Despite technological change, the same core security vulnerabilities persist across UK organisations in pen tests after pen tests. Use these lists as a self-assessment before engaging a penetration testing company; the weaknesses below are what our testers most frequently discover across information security engagements.

Infrastructure & Network Weaknesses

Outdated operating systems and unpatched services across IT infrastructure
Unpatched VPN concentrators exposing external networks to exploitation
Flat network architecture with weak segmentation enabling lateral movement
Default administrative credentials on target systems and network devices
Exposed management interfaces allowing unauthorised access attempts
Legacy systems creating privilege escalation paths to critical assets

Application & API Security Flaws

SQL injection and other OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities in web applications
Broken access control and insecure direct object references in APIs
Logic flaws enabling payment bypass and workflow abuse in web apps
Insecure file uploads creating pathways to remote code execution
APIs lacking endpoint-level authentication or rate limiting
Excessive data exposure in API responses revealing sensitive data

Identity, Cloud & Human-Centric Risks

Overly permissive IAM roles in AWS, Azure, and GCP cloud environments
Absence of MFA on privileged accounts and admin interfaces
Weak password policies enabling credential-stuffing cyber attacks
Public storage buckets exposing sensitive data to the internet
Social engineering exploiting vulnerabilities in security awareness
Misconfigured cloud resources and over-privileged service accounts

Penetration Testing FAQs

Common questions from IT leaders, CISOs, and business owners planning a penetration testing programme for their UK organisation.

How often should we conduct penetration tests?

At a minimum annually — with quarterly testing or a PTaaS model for high-risk or dynamic environments where code changes frequently. Regular penetration tests support compliance with PCI DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA, and are increasingly required by cyber insurers to meet compliance requirements.

How long does a penetration test take?

Typically 3–10 days depending on scope. A single web application test takes 3–5 days; a full infrastructure assessment covering external networks, internal systems, and cloud platforms may take 2–3 weeks. Larger red team assessment programmes run over multiple weeks.

Will testing disrupt our business operations?

Testing occurs under strict legal contracts with agreed rules of engagement. Safe working practices, including change windows, test data, and pre-agreed stop conditions, prevent data loss or operational downtime. Our testers use the same techniques as real-world attackers, but safely and with full authorisation.

What is the difference between vulnerability scanning and pen testing?

Vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify known weaknesses quickly and at scale. Manual penetration testing is goal-driven and combines automated scans with expert analysis to discover security vulnerabilities that automated scans routinely miss, including logic flaws, chained attack paths, and business-process weaknesses.

Why use an external penetration testing company?

Independent penetration testing providers avoid internal bias and bring fresh perspectives with offensive security expertise and knowledge of emerging threats. External pen test partners bring specialist tooling and current attack techniques that internal teams rarely maintain, and their reports demonstrate due diligence to boards and auditors.

How do we prepare for a penetration test?

Compile asset inventories, align technical stakeholders, plan any change freezes, and define clear success criteria. Request a pen test quote early to plan budgets and scheduling. Define which critical assets are in scope, confirm escalation contacts for critical vulnerabilities, and prepare test accounts where applicable.

Next Steps: Plan Your Penetration Testing Programme

Penetration testing is a continuous process, not a one-time checkbox. Regular penetration tests support compliance with ISO 27001 and PCI DSS while maintaining customer trust, reducing security risk, and building resilience against evolving threats. The organisations that discover vulnerabilities proactively are the ones best protected against whatever cyber attacks emerge next.

Identify critical assets and key challenges within your IT environment
Define objectives, compliance requirements, security-driven, or both
Shortlist CREST-accredited penetration testing providers
Schedule an initial focused engagement on your most exposed assets
Embed regular reviews with incident response planning and remediation workflows