How often should we conduct penetration testing?

At minimum annually and after significant changes. PCI DSS requires annual testing. Many organizations conduct quarterly external and semi-annual internal tests.

What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?

Vulnerability scans use automated tools to identify known vulnerabilities. Penetration testing actually exploits vulnerabilities and chains findings to demonstrate real-world impact.

Will penetration testing disrupt our business operations?

Professional penetration testing minimizes business impact through defined rules of engagement, testing windows, and careful monitoring. Well-scoped tests operate without detectable impact.

What do we receive when the penetration test is complete?

A comprehensive report with executive summary, technical findings with evidence, CVSS ratings, compliance mapping, prioritized remediation guidance, plus a presentation to your team.

How much does penetration testing cost?

Cost depends on scope including IP count, applications, testing types, and compliance requirements. We provide transparent pricing after a scoping call.

Do you offer retesting after we fix vulnerabilities?

Yes. Targeted retesting validates that critical and high-severity findings are successfully remediated and provides updated compliance evidence.

Which compliance frameworks require penetration testing?

PCI DSS explicitly mandates it. CMMC, HIPAA, SOC 2, and NIST 800-53 all require or strongly recommend penetration testing as security assessment methodology.

What is the difference between black box, gray box, and white box testing?

Black box: no prior knowledge. Gray box: limited info like credentials. White box: full source code access. Most organizations benefit from gray box testing.

What types of penetration testing do you offer?

We offer external network pen testing, internal network pen testing, web application testing (OWASP Top 10), API security testing, wireless network testing, social engineering (phishing, vishing, physical), cloud infrastructure testing (AWS, Azure, GCP), and mobile application testing.

How often should we conduct penetration testing?

We recommend annual pen testing at minimum, with quarterly testing for high-risk environments. You should also test after major infrastructure changes, new application deployments, or when required by compliance frameworks. PCI DSS requires annual testing; CMMC and many cyber insurance policies also mandate it.

What certifications do your penetration testers hold?

Our pen testing team holds OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), GPEN (GIAC Penetration Tester), and CREST certifications. All testers undergo background checks and sign NDAs before any engagement.

Will penetration testing disrupt our business operations?

We design all pen tests to minimize disruption. Testing is scoped and scheduled around your business hours, with careful coordination for any potentially disruptive tests. We maintain constant communication during testing and can pause immediately if any issues arise.

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Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing ServicesFind Vulnerabilities First

Manual penetration testing by experienced security professionals who think like attackers. Network, application, wireless, and social engineering testing that goes beyond automated scanning to find real vulnerabilities.

CMMC Registered Practitioner Org|BBB A+ Since 2003|23+ Years Experience

Schedule a Consultation Call 919-601-1601

Capabilities

Penetration Testing Capabilities

External Network Testing

Assess your internet-facing infrastructure for vulnerabilities that remote attackers could exploit to gain access.

Internal Network Testing

Simulate an insider threat or compromised endpoint to test lateral movement and privilege escalation paths.

Web Application Testing

OWASP Top 10 coverage plus business logic testing for custom web applications and APIs.

Social Engineering

Phishing campaigns, pretexting, and physical security testing to evaluate your human security posture.

Process

How It Works

Scope definition and rules of engagement

Reconnaissance and threat modeling

Manual exploitation and testing

Detailed report with prioritized findings

Remediation guidance and support

Re-test to verify fixes

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is pen testing different from vulnerability scanning?

Vulnerability scanning is automated and identifies known weaknesses. Penetration testing uses human expertise to exploit vulnerabilities, chain attacks, and test business logic. See our vulnerability assessment page for more on scanning.

How often should we do penetration testing?

At minimum annually. More frequently if you make significant infrastructure changes or are subject to CMMC or HIPAA requirements.

What do we receive after the test?

A detailed report with executive summary, technical findings ranked by severity, proof-of-concept evidence, remediation guidance, and a re-test attestation letter.

Will pen testing disrupt our operations?

We coordinate timing and scope to minimize impact. Critical systems can be tested during maintenance windows. We always have a communication plan for immediate issues.

Get Started

Ready to Test Your Defenses?

Schedule a scoping call to define your penetration test.

Schedule a Consultation Call 919-601-1601