Penetration Testing

Web application testing: Web applications are the most common entry point for attackers. Our testing covers the OWASP Top 10 and goes well beyond it — injection vulnerabilities (SQL, NoSQL, command, template), authentication and session management flaws, authorisation bypasses (IDOR, privilege escalation), cross-site scripting (reflected, stored, DOM-based), server-side request forgery, insecure deserialization, business logic flaws, file upload vulnerabilities, and API-specific issues. We test both the application itself and its supporting infrastructure.

API security assessment: Modern applications are built on APIs, and API security requires a different testing approach than traditional web application testing. We assess authentication mechanisms (OAuth, JWT, API keys), authorisation controls at every endpoint, input validation, rate limiting, error handling and information disclosure, and business logic vulnerabilities that arise from the way API endpoints interact with each other.

Network and infrastructure testing: External network testing assesses your internet-facing perimeter — firewall configurations, exposed services, VPN endpoints, email security, and DNS. Internal network testing simulates an attacker who has gained initial access (or a malicious insider) and attempts to escalate privileges, move laterally, access sensitive systems, and compromise domain infrastructure. We test both traditional on-premises environments and cloud infrastructure.

Mobile application testing: Mobile applications introduce platform-specific security considerations. We test both iOS and Android applications for insecure data storage, weak server-side controls, insufficient transport layer protection, improper session handling, broken cryptography, client-side injection, and reverse engineering vulnerabilities.

Cloud configuration review: Cloud environments are frequently misconfigured in ways that create serious security exposure. We assess AWS, Azure, and GCP configurations for overly permissive IAM policies, exposed storage, insecure network configurations, logging and monitoring gaps, and encryption weaknesses.

Every engagement follows a structured methodology, but we do not follow it mechanically. Our testers are OSCP-certified, meaning they have demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in realistic scenarios under time pressure — not just pass a multiple-choice exam.

The engagement begins with scoping and reconnaissance — understanding what is being tested, what is in scope, and what the client’s specific concerns are. We then move through discovery (mapping the attack surface), vulnerability identification (using both automated tools and manual techniques), exploitation (proving that vulnerabilities are exploitable and assessing real-world impact), and post-exploitation (determining what an attacker could achieve after initial compromise).

Every finding is rated using the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) for severity, includes proof-of-concept evidence showing the vulnerability is real and exploitable, and provides specific, actionable remediation guidance — not generic recommendations.

Automated vulnerability scanners are useful tools, but they cannot replace manual penetration testing. Scanners miss business logic vulnerabilities — flaws in the way an application implements its intended functionality. They cannot chain multiple low-severity findings into a high-impact attack path. They generate false positives that waste remediation effort. And they cannot assess the real-world exploitability and impact of a vulnerability in the context of your specific environment.

A penetration test from a skilled tester finds fewer total issues than a scanner — but the issues it finds are the ones that actually matter.

Penetration testing is required or recommended by most security and compliance frameworks. PCI DSS requires annual penetration testing and testing after significant changes. ISO 27001 requires regular technical vulnerability assessments. SOC 2 assessors expect evidence of penetration testing. GDPR Article 32 references regular testing as part of appropriate technical measures. DPDPA’s security safeguard requirements are expected to include technical testing. Many cyber insurance policies require annual penetration testing as a coverage condition.

Our reports are written for two audiences. The executive summary gives leadership and board members a clear, jargon-free assessment of the organisation’s security posture, the most significant risks identified, and recommended priorities. The technical detail gives your engineering and security teams everything they need to understand and fix each vulnerability — including reproduction steps, affected components, and specific remediation guidance. Every engagement includes a free retest within 30 days of remediation to verify that fixes are effective.