Penetration Testing Service

A penetration testing service (or pentest) is a form of ethical cyber security assessment designed to identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities affecting computer networks, systems, applications and websites so that any weaknesses discovered can be addressed in order to mitigate the risk of suffering a malicious attack.

In some regions, the terms are used interchangeably, or combined into a single offering as VAPT, but it there are important distinctions between the two services. While a vulnerability scan uses only automated tools to search for known vulnerabilities, a penetration test is a more in-depth assessment. Pen testing utilises a combination of machine and human-driven or even physical approaches to identify hidden weaknesses.

Pen testing is conducted by Redscan’s experienced red team of CREST accredited ethical hackers who possess an in-depth understanding of the latest threats and adversarial techniques.

CREST penetration testing services use a systematic methodology. In the case of a blackbox external network pentest, once the engagement has been scoped, the pen tester will conduct extensive reconnaissance, scanning and asset mapping in order to identify vulnerabilities for exploitation. Once access to the network has been established, the pen tester will then attempt to move laterally across the network to obtain the higher-level privileges required to compromise additional assets and achieve the objective of the pentesting engagement.

Penetration testing as a service (PTaas) utilises the tools, techniques and procedures used by genuine criminal hackers. Common blackhat pentesting methods include phishing, SQL injection, brute force and deployment of custom malware.

Redscan’s pen testing team don’t rely on automated scanning applications. To detect hidden and complex vulnerabilities, they leverage a range of open source and commercial pentesting tools to manually perform tasks such as network and asset discovery, attack surface mapping and exploitation.

The time it takes an ethical hacker to complete a pentest is dependent upon the scope of the test. Factors affecting pentesting duration include network size, if the test is internal or external facing, whether it involves any physical penetration testing and whether network information and user credentials are shared with Redscan prior to the pentesting engagement.

All businesses are advised to conduct a penetration test at least once a year, as well as after any significant upgrades or modifications to the company network. Given the rapid rate at which new exploits are discovered, Redscan recommends that quarterly tests are performed. Regular penetration tests are often required for compliance with regulations such as PCI DSS.

For organisations looking to accelerate the development of secure software and applications, agile penetration testing is another option, providing a structured way to find and address potential risks in alignment with the existing timelines and schedules of product releases, ensuring that newly added or updated features are tested in real time, as they are added or updated.

Learn more about agile penetration testing

Penetration testing as a service (PTaaS) is a continuous penetration testing approach that combines manual and automated procedures to provide ongoing assessment. Pen testing as a service can be performed alongside an organisation’s existing testing programme to ensure fixes are working as intended and security improvements are being made on a continuous basis.

Redscan is a member of CREST, an international certification body for information security and penetration testing services. By choosing our CREST pen testing services, you can be sure that all assessments will be carried out to the highest technical and ethical standards. Our CREST certified penetration testers hold a range of cyber security certifications, demonstrating their ability to perform many types of penetration testing. Learn more about the benefits of CREST-accreditation.

After each engagement, the ethical hacker(s) assigned to the test will produce a custom written report, detailing and assessing the risks of any weaknesses identified plus outlining recommended remedial actions. A comprehensive telephone debrief is conducted following submission of the report.

Many types of penetration testing can be performed remotely via a VPN connection, however some forms of assessment, such as internal network pen testing and wireless pentesting, may require an ethical hacker to conduct an assessment on site.

Working with a single pentesting supplier can have its pitfalls, as over-familiarity with an IT environment can mean that some exposures may be overlooked. Choosing a penetration testing as a service (PTaas) partner like Redscan, that invests in offensive security and employs ethical hackers specialising in a wide range of penetration testing types, can help to significantly reduce this risk while offering the added benefit of being a long-term, go-to, partner for support and advice.

A Redscan penetration test is conducted in accordance with the strictest legal, technical ethical standards. Tests are designed to identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities while minimising the risk of disrupting business operations.

The cost of a pentest is based on the number of days our ethical hackers need to achieve an agreed objective. To receive a pen test quotation, you will need to complete a pre-evaluation questionnaire, although Redscan’s experts can help you with this.

Learn more about pen test pricing