Penetration Testing Services

Find the weaknesses. Understand the impact. Strengthen your defences.

How could an attacker gain access to your systems?
What could they reach once inside?
Which security weaknesses should you fix first?

Cybergen® penetration testing helps you answer these questions through controlled, authorised security assessments of your applications, infrastructure and cloud environments.

Our testing combines automated discovery with manual investigation to identify exploitable weaknesses, assess attack paths and explain the potential impact on your business.

Request a penetration testing quote Discuss your testing scope

CREST accredited for penetration testingIndependently assessed for the quality of our methodology, people and processes.

ATTACK PATHIllustrative example

Exposed remote access portalEntry point found from the internet
MEDIUM
Weak password policy on remote accountsInitial foothold with valid credentials
HIGH
Flat network between user and server rangesLateral movement towards servers
MEDIUM
Excessive permissions on a service accountPrivilege escalation in Active Directory
HIGH
Read access to the finance file shareBusiness impact demonstrated
OBJECTIVE

Individual weaknesses can combine into a path to sensitive data. We explain how, and which fix breaks the chain.

Why it matters

Understand how your security performs under attack

A security weakness becomes more meaningful when you understand how an attacker could exploit it.

An exposed service might provide an initial foothold. An access control flaw could reveal another customer's data. Excessive permissions could turn a compromised account into access to business-critical systems. Penetration testing investigates these possibilities within agreed boundaries.

From a focused web application penetration test to a wider assessment of your internal network, we scope each engagement around your environment, objectives and operational needs.

WHAT YOU RECEIVE

Clear findings, practical remediation guidance and support to turn the results into improvements.

Cybergen helps you:

Identify exploitable vulnerabilities and configuration weaknesses.
Assess authentication, authorisation and access controls.
Understand how individual weaknesses could combine into an attack path.
Evaluate the potential impact on sensitive data and critical services.
Prioritise remediation using technical evidence and business context.
Support customer assurance, procurement and audit requirements.
Validate specific fixes through targeted retesting.

The result is an evidence-led view of the systems tested, with clear next steps for your technical team and leadership.

What we test

Our penetration testing services

Each engagement is scoped around your environment, objectives and operational needs.

External network penetration testing

Understand what an attacker can reach from the internet.

We assess the agreed internet-facing assets associated with your organisation, such as public IP addresses, remote access services, exposed infrastructure and externally accessible systems. Testing investigates vulnerabilities, configuration issues and access weaknesses that could provide an entry point into your environment.

Depending on scope, this can include

Internet-facing service discovery and validation
Exposed management interfaces
Vulnerable software and insecure configurations
Remote access and authentication controls
Unnecessary services and information disclosure
Controlled validation of exploitable findings

YOU RECEIVE

A prioritised assessment of external weaknesses, supporting evidence and recommended remediation.

Request a quote for external testing

Internal network penetration testing

Assess what could happen after an attacker gains a foothold.

An internal penetration test examines the risks associated with access to your corporate network or an agreed internal environment. The starting point might represent a compromised workstation, a malicious insider or an attacker who has obtained valid credentials.

Testing can assess network segmentation, authentication, permissions and potential routes towards sensitive systems.

YOU RECEIVE

A clear explanation of the access achieved, the weaknesses that enabled it and the controls that could limit further compromise.

Request a quote for internal testing

Active Directory and identity security testing

Investigate the permissions and relationships that could enable wider compromise.

Identity systems often determine how far an attacker can move through an organisation. We assess agreed aspects of your identity environment, including account privileges, administrative access, configuration weaknesses and paths to elevated permissions.

Where included in scope, testing can cover on-premises Active Directory and relevant cloud identity controls.

YOU RECEIVE

Evidence of identity-related attack paths and recommendations to strengthen access boundaries.

Request a quote for identity testing

Web application penetration testing

Protect the applications your customers, employees and partners rely on.

We assess websites, customer portals, business applications and SaaS platforms for weaknesses that could expose data, undermine access controls or allow unauthorised actions. Testing considers application functionality and business logic alongside common technical vulnerabilities.

Areas can include

Authentication and account recovery
Session management
Access control between users, roles and organisations
Input handling and injection weaknesses
File upload and download functionality
Sensitive information exposure
Business process abuse
Application configuration and error handling

YOU RECEIVE

Findings your developers can investigate and reproduce, with contextual remediation advice.

Request a quote for web application testing

API penetration testing

Assess the interfaces connecting your applications and data.

APIs can expose sensitive functions and information even when the user interface appears secure. We assess agreed REST, GraphQL and other API interfaces, focusing on how requests are authenticated, authorised and processed.

Testing can investigate object-level access controls, excessive data exposure, administrative functions, input validation and abuse of sensitive workflows.

YOU RECEIVE

An assessment of API weaknesses and their practical impact, supported by evidence and recommended fixes.

Request a quote for API testing

Cloud penetration testing

Understand how cloud access and configuration could create attack paths.

We assess agreed components of your Azure, AWS or other supported cloud environment, considering the relationship between exposed services, identities, permissions and workloads. Depending on scope, the engagement can combine penetration testing with configuration review to assess:

Identity and access management
Exposed services and management interfaces
Storage access and sensitive data exposure
Excessive permissions and privilege escalation paths
Secrets handling
Workload and network boundaries

Testing is planned around the relevant provider's policies and your operational requirements.

YOU RECEIVE

Contextual cloud security findings that explain how weaknesses could affect your environment.

Request a quote for cloud testing

Mobile application penetration testing

Assess the security of your iOS and Android applications.

We examine agreed mobile applications and their interaction with supporting services, considering how sensitive information is stored, transmitted and accessed. Testing can cover local data storage, authentication, session handling, platform interactions and application behaviour.

Backend APIs can also be assessed where explicitly included in scope.

YOU RECEIVE

Actionable findings for mobile developers and the teams responsible for supporting infrastructure.

Request a quote for mobile testing

Wireless network penetration testing

Check whether wireless access creates an unintended route into your organisation.

We assess agreed wireless networks, their authentication controls and the boundaries between connected users and internal resources. The engagement can examine wireless configuration, guest access, network separation and exposure to relevant attack scenarios.

YOU RECEIVE

Findings that help strengthen wireless access and reduce the risk of unauthorised connectivity.

Request a quote for wireless testing

Infrastructure penetration testing

Assess the systems supporting your business operations.

Infrastructure testing can bring together servers, endpoints, network devices and supporting services within a defined environment. We help identify a suitable scope based on the systems involved, the access available and the risks you need to understand.

YOU RECEIVE

A consolidated view of exploitable infrastructure weaknesses and practical remediation priorities.

Request a quote for infrastructure testing

OT and SCADA penetration testing

Test industrial control systems without putting operations at risk.

Operational technology and SCADA environments need a different approach from corporate IT. We assess control networks, the boundary between IT and OT, remote access routes and the supporting systems that manage industrial processes, using safe, agreed techniques that respect availability and safety requirements. Testing can be passive, carried out in a representative environment or scheduled within maintenance windows.

YOU RECEIVE

A clear view of how an attacker could reach or disrupt your operational systems, with remediation priorities that account for safety and uptime.

Request a quote for OT and SCADA testing Read: why standard methods fail in OT

Physical security testing

Assess whether physical access controls protect your people, premises and systems.

Physical penetration testing evaluates agreed scenarios involving access to buildings, restricted areas or sensitive equipment. The engagement is governed by explicit authorisation, defined locations and clear escalation procedures.

YOU RECEIVE

Evidence of the controls tested, the access achieved and recommendations for improving physical security.

Request a quote for physical testing

Intelligence-led penetration testing

Test against threats relevant to your organisation

Your industry, technology and business activities influence the attacks you are likely to face. Cybergen can use cyber threat intelligence to help shape testing priorities and develop relevant attack scenarios.

This can include considering commonly targeted technologies, threat actor behaviours and attack paths associated with your sector. Where appropriate, findings can be mapped to MITRE ATT&CK to help security teams connect observed behaviours with detection, investigation and defensive improvements.

Discuss intelligence-led testing

Reconnaissance

Initial access

Credential access

Privilege escalation

Lateral movement

Collection

Technique in scopeObserved during testing (illustrative)

Testing approach

Choose the right testing approach

Black box penetration testing

Testing begins with limited information about the target environment.

This can help assess what an external attacker could discover and exploit from the agreed starting position.

INFORMATION SHARED

Grey box penetration testing

Testing begins with some information or access, such as application documentation or standard user credentials.

This allows more focused investigation of authenticated functionality, permissions and potential attack paths.

INFORMATION SHARED

White box penetration testing

Testing begins with detailed information, which may include architecture diagrams, configuration information or source code where agreed.

This approach supports deeper assessment within the available testing time.

INFORMATION SHARED

We help select the approach that best answers your questions. The right choice depends on your objectives, environment and required depth of coverage.

Our process

How our penetration testing process works

Define the objectives and scope
We establish what you need to understand, which assets are included and where testing boundaries apply. This includes discussing sensitive systems, permitted techniques, testing windows, third-party dependencies and operational constraints.
Agree authorisation and rules of engagement
Before testing starts, we document the agreed scope, permissions, contacts and escalation procedures. We also establish how urgent findings will be communicated and when testing should pause.
Discover and investigate weaknesses
We combine appropriate tooling with manual analysis to identify weaknesses and investigate how they affect the environment. The depth and techniques used reflect the agreed scope and available testing time.
Validate exploitation and impact
Where authorised and appropriate, we validate findings through controlled exploitation. This helps establish whether a weakness is exploitable and what access or business impact it could enable.
Report and explain the findings
You receive a structured report with an executive summary, technical evidence and remediation recommendations. A debrief helps your stakeholders understand the results and agree priorities.
Retest agreed fixes
Retesting checks whether the specific weaknesses addressed by your team remain reproducible. The proposal defines the included retesting scope, timing and any conditions.

Scope your penetration test

Reporting

A penetration testing report your team can use

A useful report gives leadership a clear view of risk and gives technical teams enough detail to act.

Discuss reporting and deliverables

PENETRATION TEST REPORTCONTENTS

Executive summaryAn accessible explanation of the key findings, potential business consequences and recommended priorities.
Scope and assessment contextA record of the systems tested, approach taken, testing dates and relevant limitations.
Technical findingsAffected assets, supporting evidence, reproduction details where appropriate and an explanation of potential impact.
Risk prioritisationSeverity ratings supported by contextual analysis, including the access required and likely consequences of exploitation.
Remediation guidancePractical recommendations to help your team address the identified weaknesses.
Attack path narrativeWhere relevant, an explanation of how multiple weaknesses were combined to reach a more significant outcome.
Retest resultsA record of whether agreed findings were resolved, partially addressed or remained reproducible.

Choosing an assessment

Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning or red teaming?

Vulnerability scanning

Automated scanning helps identify potential known vulnerabilities and configuration issues across a defined set of assets.

SUITED TORegular visibility and vulnerability management.

THIS PAGE

Penetration testing

Penetration testing adds manual investigation and controlled exploitation to assess weaknesses and their impact within a defined scope.

SUITED TOQuestions about particular applications, networks or environments.

Red teaming

A red team engagement evaluates agreed objectives through a broader adversary simulation, often examining prevention, detection and response together.

SUITED TOAssessing how people, processes and technology respond to a realistic attack scenario.

Purple teaming

Purple teaming brings offensive and defensive teams together to test attack behaviours, review telemetry and improve detection and response.

SUITED TOImproving detection and response alongside your defenders.

Cybergen can help you select the assessment that answers your assurance questions.

Assurance and compliance

Testing that supports assurance and compliance

Penetration testing can provide evidence for customer security reviews, contractual requirements and wider assurance programmes.

We scope the assessment against the relevant requirement rather than assuming that one test satisfies every obligation.

Need a specific scheme?If your procurement specifies CREST-accredited delivery, NCSC CHECK or another scheme, tell us during scoping so the required delivery arrangements and evidence can be established before booking.

Depending on your obligations, findings may support work relating to:

ISO 27001 and information security risk management

PCI DSS testing requirements

SOC 2 assurance activities

Supplier and third-party security assessments

Cyber insurance questionnaires

Internal security policies and risk treatment plans

Why Cybergen

Why choose Cybergen for penetration testing?

Testing shaped around your risks

We focus the engagement on your environment, critical assets and the questions you need answered.

Manual investigation alongside appropriate tooling

Automated discovery supports the assessment. Analyst investigation adds context, validates findings and examines weaknesses that depend on application behaviour or connected attack paths.

Clear communication

Your stakeholders receive understandable findings, agreed escalation routes and a structured debrief.

Practical remediation guidance

Recommendations help your technical team move from identifying a weakness to addressing its cause.

Connection to your wider security programme

Use the results to inform vulnerability management, secure development, identity controls, monitoring and future testing.

Timing

When should you arrange a penetration test?

Useful triggers include:

Launching a new application or customer portal

Making significant infrastructure or cloud changes

Introducing new authentication or access controls

Acquiring or integrating another business

Meeting a customer or contractual testing requirement

Assessing a sensitive or business-critical environment

Investigating security concerns following an incident

Reviewing whether previous remediation remains effective

Testing frequency should reflect your risk profile, rate of change and applicable obligations.

For environments that change frequently, a planned programme of smaller assessments may provide more useful coverage than a single annual engagement.

Guides and insights

Read our expert guide

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about penetration testing

Can't find your answer? Email [email protected].

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing is an authorised security assessment that investigates whether weaknesses in a defined system or environment can be exploited. It helps establish potential impact and informs remediation.

What is CREST penetration testing?

The term commonly refers to penetration testing delivered by a company accredited by CREST for the relevant service. CREST also provides individual professional certifications. Company accreditation and individual qualifications are separate considerations when selecting a provider.

Is CREST the same as NCSC CHECK?

No. CREST accreditation and NCSC CHECK are distinct assurance arrangements. If your procurement requires a particular scheme, the provider and delivery team must meet the relevant requirements for that engagement.

How much does a penetration test cost?

Cost depends on the scope, complexity, testing approach and reporting requirements. For applications, relevant factors include functionality, user roles and integrations. Infrastructure assessments also consider asset numbers, network structure and access arrangements. We establish these details before providing a scoped proposal.

How long does penetration testing take?

Duration depends on the breadth and depth of the assessment. The proposal sets out the testing effort, preparation requirements and reporting schedule. A focused application assessment and a multi-site infrastructure engagement will require different levels of effort.

Will penetration testing disrupt our business?

Testing is planned to manage operational risk through agreed techniques, scheduling and escalation procedures. Some techniques can affect system behaviour, so restrictions and sensitive services must be discussed before testing starts. Disruptive techniques are only undertaken where explicitly agreed.

Can you test production systems?

Yes, where the scope and risk assessment support it. In some circumstances, a representative non-production environment may be more suitable. We discuss the trade-offs, including whether the test environment accurately reflects production configurations and integrations.

What do you need from us before testing?

Requirements depend on the assessment but can include asset details, architecture information, test accounts, access arrangements and written authorisation. We provide the preparation requirements during scoping.

Does penetration testing include remediation?

Testing identifies and explains weaknesses. The proposal defines the support included for interpreting findings and reviewing remediation. Where implementation support is needed, this can be discussed as part of the engagement.

Is retesting included?

Your proposal specifies the retesting included, the findings covered and the timeframe for arranging it. Retesting validates specific fixes. A substantial change to the environment may require additional assessment.

Does a successful penetration test mean we are secure?

A penetration test provides evidence about the agreed scope at a particular time. It cannot guarantee that every weakness has been found or that future changes will remain secure. Its findings should feed into ongoing security management and improvement.

Find the weaknesses. Understand the impact. Strengthen your defences.

Understand how your security performs under attack

Our penetration testing services

Test against threats relevant to your organisation

Choose the right testing approach

Black box penetration testing

Grey box penetration testing

White box penetration testing

How our penetration testing process works

Define the objectives and scope

Agree authorisation and rules of engagement

Discover and investigate weaknesses

Validate exploitation and impact

Report and explain the findings

Retest agreed fixes

A penetration testing report your team can use

Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning or red teaming?

Vulnerability scanning

Penetration testing

Red teaming

Purple teaming

Testing that supports assurance and compliance

Why choose Cybergen for penetration testing?

Testing shaped around your risks

Manual investigation alongside appropriate tooling

Clear communication

Practical remediation guidance

Connection to your wider security programme

When should you arrange a penetration test?

Read our expert guide

Frequently asked questions about penetration testing

Know where you stand before an attacker tests you

Request a penetration testing quote

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