Penetration Testing
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing is a controlled security exercise used to identify and validate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. It is guided by a defined penetration testing plan that sets the scope, objectives, methods, and reporting approach to ensure testing is focused and risk-aligned.
A well-structured penetration testing plan moves organisations beyond ad hoc testing by providing a repeatable process for assessing systems, prioritising findings, and improving security over time.
Sekuro delivers penetration testing aligned to an agreed penetration testing plan, supported by clear reporting and practical remediation guidance.
Internal Penetration Testing
IT systems are the backbone of any business, small or large. Internal servers, applications and workstations hold information that is critical to any business. The information can be a mix of IP, commercially sensitive, or personally identifiable information. Systems that hold this information and employees who access this information are trusted and therefore generally subject to .
It is this trust that hackers try and constantly exploit as there is a higher likelihood of successfully compromising an organisation from within than it is from the outside.
All organisations should test the security of their internal systems from the perspective of an internal attacker to ensure a compromised staff account or a disgruntled user cannot cause serious and irreparable damage or their ability to function. Our Sekuro RED team can help with an internal pen test.
External Penetration Testing
Internet-facing IT infrastructure is constantly being poked and prodded by hackers from all over the world, whether you are a small business with a tiny Internet presence or a multinational.
Remote work technologies, email servers, file transfer servers, or any other Internet-facing IT equipment, if misconfigured or left without software updates can be used by attackers to gain a foothold into your trusted internal network, corporate servers and workstations and be used to seriously limit the ability of your organisation to function.
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Types of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing is commonly performed using one of three approaches, depending on the level of access and testing objectives defined in the penetration testing plan.
- Black box testing
The tester has no prior knowledge of the system. This approach mirrors an external attacker attempting to gain access without inside information. - White box testing
The tester is given full visibility of the system architecture and configurations, allowing for deeper and more targeted testing. - Grey box testing
The tester has limited knowledge of the environment, balancing realism with efficiency and depth of coverage.
Why Organisations Use Penetration Testing
Organisations use penetration testing to:
- Identify and address vulnerabilities before they are exploited
- Meet regulatory and contractual security requirements
- Validate the effectiveness of existing security controls
- Reduce risk through evidence-based security improvements
A clearly defined penetration testing plan helps ensure these outcomes are repeatable and aligned to business priorities.
Getting Started With a Penetration Testing Plan
To begin penetration testing effectively, organisations should:
- Define security objectives
Identify what risks, systems, or compliance requirements need to be addressed. - Develop a penetration testing plan
Work with Sekuro RED to define scope, testing approach, timelines, and reporting expectations. - Conduct the penetration test
Testing is performed in line with the agreed plan to minimise disruption and maximise relevance. - Remediate and improve
Findings are prioritised, and Sekuro RED can support remediation and ongoing security improvement.