The penetration testing process begins with signing a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to ensure confidentiality, followed by agreeing on and documenting the scope in a Rules of Engagement (RoE) document. Next, we conduct the test according to the agreed scope, simulating potential attacks to identify vulnerabilities. Within three business days of completion, we deliver a comprehensive report and are available to address any client questions.

An internal penetration test simulates an attack from within the organisation, assuming the attacker has already bypassed outer defences like firewalls or VPNs. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in the internal network, access control systems, and employee behaviour. In contrast, an external penetration test simulates an attack from outside the organisation, where the tester attempts to exploit weaknesses in public-facing applications, services, and networks to gain unauthorised access to internal systems. While internal tests evaluate security once an attacker is already inside, external tests assess how easily an attacker can penetrate perimeter defenses.

While Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems are valuable for monitoring and detecting security events in real time, they don’t guarantee complete protection. SIEMs focus on identifying patterns, analysing logs, and alerting security teams to potential threats, but they may not catch every vulnerability or misconfiguration in your infrastructure. Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to actively identify weaknesses in your systems that might evade detection by automated tools like SIEMs. This proactive approach helps uncover hidden vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or security gaps that could be exploited by attackers, ensuring a more comprehensive security posture. Additionally, penetration testing can assess how well your SIEM and other security controls respond to an actual attack, helping fine-tune your defences.

If you don’t conduct a penetration test, your organisation may remain unaware of critical vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. This leaves your systems, data, and sensitive information at risk of being compromised. Without regular testing, weaknesses in security configurations, unpatched software, and insecure practices might go undetected, leading to potential breaches. Additionally, failing to test can result in compliance issues, as many industries and regulations require regular security assessments. The longer vulnerabilities persist without detection, the higher the likelihood of a costly or damaging security incident.