Penetration Testing
What Is Penetration Testing and Why Your Business Needs It
Penetration testing (or pen testing) is a simulated cyber attack that identifies and exploits weaknesses in your IT systems, applications, or network. This proactive security measure helps organisations uncover real-world vulnerabilities before malicious hackers do.
Whether you’re a small business or large enterprise, penetration testing plays a key role in:
- Protecting sensitive data
- Meeting cybersecurity compliance (e.g. PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, NCSC Cyber Essentials)
- Reducing the risk of ransomware, phishing, and other cyber attacks
- Demonstrating security due diligence to stakeholders
At the Cyber and Fraud Centre, our UK-based team delivers CREST-certified penetration testing that mirrors real-world threats—ensuring your business stays ahead of cybercriminals.
How Our Penetration Testing Service Works
Our penetration testing service follows a proven methodology based on industry standards such as OWASP, PTES, and NIST SP 800-115. Here’s how we help you strengthen your cyber defences:
1. Scoping & Planning
We define your testing goals, target systems, and rules of engagement to ensure a safe and focused assessment.
2. Reconnaissance
Using OSINT and scanning tools, we discover exposed assets and identify potential attack surfaces.
3. Exploitation
We simulate real cyber attacks to test the effectiveness of your defences and exploit discovered vulnerabilities.
4. Lateral Movement
We evaluate how far an attacker could go after initial access, testing privilege escalation and internal reach.
5. Reporting
You receive a clear, prioritised report with all findings, risk levels, and expert remediation advice.
Comprehensive Penetration Testing Across All Critical Environments
Network Infrastructure Assessment
We conduct thorough evaluations of both internal and external network perimeters, simulating advanced persistent threats to expose misconfigurations, insecure protocols, and exploitable pathways. Our testing reveals how attackers could move laterally through your environment and escalate privileges to reach critical assets.
Application Security Analysis
Your web applications and APIs represent prime targets for cybercriminals. We perform comprehensive security testing using industry-leading tools and manual techniques to identify SQL injection, cross-site scripting, authentication bypasses, and business logic flaws that could expose sensitive data or compromise system integrity.
Mobile Security Evaluation
Modern threats target mobile platforms with increasing sophistication. Our experts analyse iOS and Android applications to uncover client-side vulnerabilities, insecure data storage, weak encryption, and server-side integration flaws that could lead to data theft or unauthorised access.
Cloud Security Validation
Cloud environments introduce complex security challenges across Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud platforms. We assess your cloud architecture, IAM configurations, storage permissions, and network controls to prevent data breaches and ensure compliance with security frameworks.
Connected Device Security
The expanding IoT landscape creates new attack vectors. We evaluate your connected devices, wireless networks, and IoT ecosystems for firmware vulnerabilities, weak authentication, and communication protocols that could be exploited to gain network access or compromise device functionality.
Human Factor Testing
Your employees remain both your greatest asset and potential vulnerability. Our social engineering assessments and targeted phishing campaigns measure security awareness, test incident response procedures, and identify training opportunities to strengthen your human defense layer.
What You Get with Our Penetration Testing Report
Executive Summary
A comprehensive yet accessible overview that translates technical findings into clear business risks and impact assessments. This section enables senior leadership to understand the security posture, potential financial implications, and strategic priorities for remediation efforts.
Technical Details
Thorough step-by-step documentation of our testing methodology, detailed findings with supporting evidence, and proof-of-concept demonstrations. Each vulnerability includes precise technical descriptions, attack vectors utilised, and the specific tools and techniques employed during discovery.
Risk Ratings
Professional risk classification using High/Medium/Low severity ratings aligned with industry standards such as CVSS scoring. This prioritisation framework helps you allocate resources effectively and address the most critical vulnerabilities first, ensuring maximum security improvement with available budget and time.
Remediation Recommendations
Bespoke remediation guidance crafted specifically for your technology stack, operational constraints, and business requirements. Our recommendations include both immediate tactical fixes and strategic long-term security improvements, complete with implementation timelines and resource requirements.
Retesting Service
Comprehensive verification testing to confirm that your remediation efforts have successfully eliminated all identified vulnerabilities. This follow-up assessment provides assurance that security gaps have been properly closed and validates the effectiveness of implemented security controls.
Get In Touch
Common Questions
What’s the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
A vulnerability scan uses automated tools to detect known weaknesses in your systems. A penetration test goes a step further—it simulates a real-world attack to actively exploit those weaknesses, showing how deep an attacker could go. It’s about proving the risk, not just listing it.
Will the test disrupt our business operations?
No. We design the test around your business hours and risk tolerance. You’ll be fully involved in defining the scope and rules of engagement, so the testing is controlled, safe, and minimally disruptive.
Is penetration testing only for big businesses or regulated sectors?
Not at all. Cyber threats don’t discriminate. Whether you’re a small organisation or a large enterprise, if you have digital assets, customer data, or critical infrastructure—you can benefit from penetration testing. It’s about being proactive, not reactive.
How often should we get a penetration test?
We recommend at least annually, or whenever there are major changes—like new systems, app updates, or a move to the cloud. Regular testing helps maintain a strong security posture in a constantly evolving threat landscape.
What happens after the test is completed?
You’ll receive a comprehensive report outlining each vulnerability, how it was discovered, its risk level, and how to fix it. We also provide a remediation roadmap—and we can schedule a retest to validate your fixes. You won’t be left guessing.
How long does testing take?
Typically 1–4 weeks depending on scope.
How do you keep data safe?
All engagement is covered by strict NDAs and secure handling protocols.
Do you offer retests?
Yes—once patches are in place, we can verify your fixes.