Penetration Testing
What do we test? Whatever you need tested.
Find Your Weaknesses Before Attackers Do
Through penetration testing (also called pentesting), organizations see exactly where their defenses have gaps. Our consultants simulate controlled real-world attacks against your networks and assets to uncover vulnerabilities in your systems before actual attackers find them.
Our testing reveals more than just a list of vulnerabilities. You’ll understand how an attacker could chain weaknesses together, what data is truly at risk, and which identified issues pose the greatest threat to your business. Every finding comes with clear, practical steps that your team can take to address it.
Whether you need a test to meet compliance requirements, validate recent security investments, or simply want to know where you stand, penetration testing gives you the clarity to make informed decisions.
After a penetration test, you’ll know where you’re vulnerable, what it would take to exploit those weaknesses, and how to prioritize your remediation efforts based on real attack patterns, not theoretical scenarios.
Fill out the form to discover your organization’s security gaps.
Tell Us What to Test
Describe the assets you need to test and we’ll be in touch.
Our Penetration Testing Process
Thorough testing with business-focused analysis.
We identify attack paths, evaluate realistic impact to your operations, and provide prioritized guidance that aligns with your resources and goals.
![Pentesting Process [Recovered]](https://secureideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pentesting-Process-Recovered.webp)
Security Architect
Retail
Pentesting Focuses
Every environment is different. Secure Ideas offers targeted testing across multiple specialized domains, allowing you to select exactly the coverage your organization needs. Whether that’s a single focus area or a strategic combination, we adapt to your specific security requirements.
Network Penetration Test
Network Pentesting looks at whether an attacker could reach sensitive systems or data through your network, from inside or out. We can test external IP ranges, internal ranges, or a combination, using the same techniques adversaries would try. Our team can design engagements as assumed compromise, controls testing, red team exercises, or network segmentation reviews, depending on what you need to validate.
Trusted for company-driven and regulatory testing alike.
Application Penetration Test
Application Pentesting digs past the obvious and into how your app actually behaves under pressure. Choose a gray box test, a collaborative session with your dev team, SDLC-aligned testing, an authenticated scan, or whatever fits your release cycle. We cover the OWASP Top 10 and beyond, testing internal and external apps against PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC, and other standards.
We find what the automated scan missed.
API Penetration Test
API Pentesting examines how your interfaces hold up against unauthorized access and abuse, not just whether they return the right response. Our consultants manually test authentication, authorization, and data handling across your endpoints, going beyond what documentation and automated scanners catch. We work to tailor engagements to your architecture, whether you’re testing one API or several that work together.
Manual testing built around how your API is actually used.
Mobile App Penetration Test
Mobile App Pentesting evaluates your app’s code, storage, and communication before it ever reaches your users. We manually assess how the app responds to different inputs, review the code for weaknesses, and attempt access using unauthorized credentials. Testing can run alongside API assessments when your mobile app and backend share risk.
Before it hits the app store, it hits our team.
OT Penetration Test
OT & ICS/SCADA Pentesting searches for potential vulnerabilities to your industrial and automation control environments, without putting production availability at risk. We combine passive and active information gathering across the full stack, from physical access to application layer, tailoring each engagement to your sector.
Testing designed around uptime, not just findings.
IoT & Embedded Device Penetration Test
IOT & Embedded Device Pentesting calls for a different skill set: hardware, firmware, and assembly knowledge layered on top of standard application and API testing. Our consultants have hands-on experience with tons of devices, including door access systems, DVRs and IP cameras, medical devices, sensor nodes, and network appliances. We scope the engagement around the systems, services, and activities specific to your device.
Built for product launches and post-launch confidence alike.
Wireless Penetration Test
Wireless Pentesting takes a close look at your Wi-Fi implementation from three angles: configuration, authenticated access, and an external, unauthenticated perspective. We review your configuration exports for misconfigurations, validate authentication and segmentation controls, and test whether an outsider could capture and crack your pre-shared key. Testing can happen on-site or remotely using our SIAM devices, and these engagements pair nicely with an internal network pentest.
Remote testing options that cut cost and turnaround time.
Physical Penetration Test
Physical Pentesting tests whether your facility can withstand tailgating, social engineering, lock bypass, RFID cloning, and other real-world tactics. Our consultants start with reconnaissance, active and passive, before assessing entry points and physical controls in person. Choose a joint walkthrough, business hours testing, or after-hours building security testing, depending on what security measures you want evaluated.
Real-world tactics, tested with your safety in mind.
1 Credit = Up to 1 Full Day of Expert Work
Purchase credits ahead of time, and arrange testing as you need it. Partnership-based security testing on your schedule. One credit gets you up to one full day of expert work from consultants who understand your business. Engage our team as needed with complete flexibility.
Ongoing advisory services included for no extra charge. No rigid scopes, real-time collaboration, and engagement tailored to your priorities.
Exclusively from Secure Ideas.
Comprehensive, Manual Reporting
We allocate sufficient time within each engagement for thorough documentation, ensuring you receive clear explanations of discovered vulnerabilities, proof-of-concept details, and practical remediation guidance.
All of our penetration tests include dedicated time for report creation and peer review. Our testers don’t use automated templates or generic outputs, each report is manually written specifically for your environment and findings. You get a report that accurately reflects your unique environment, written by the same testers who conducted the assessment.
This isn’t an afterthought; it’s a core part of how we deliver value.
Pentesting Approaches
Continuous Penetration Testing
Continuous Pentesting keeps testing running instead of leaving your network exposed between annual checkups. We pair ongoing vulnerability scanning with a real consultant reviewing the results, and catching new risks as they appear across web apps, APIs, and IoT ecosystems. Regular reporting means you always know what’s new, what has changed, and where to point the roadmap next.
Security that doesn’t wait for next year’s test.
Threat-Led Penetration Testing
Threat-Led Pentesting simulates the specific tactics, techniques, and procedures of the threat actors most likely to target your organization, instead of following a generic playbook. We work with you to identify relevant adversaries and scenarios, then build a bespoke test around them. It’s the approach DORA now mandates for certain financial entities, and happens to be a strong fit for any mature security program.
Tested against the threats actually coming for you.
Purple Team Penetration Testing
Purple Team Pentesting engagements put our red team and your blue team on the same call, testing and defending in real time. As we run attacks, your team watches, tunes detection, and learns what an actual intrusion might look like on your systems. It’s a faster way to validate specific controls and walk away with sharper monitoring.
Your defenders, tested and trained at the same time.
Red Team Penetration Testing
Red Team Pentesting engagements go beyond finding vulnerabilities. Our consultants simulate a determined adversary, and chain together recon, phishing, and physical access attempts to show how far a real attacker could get and what they could walk away with. Most engagements wrap up in a month or less, with reporting delivered within a week.
See your whole attack surface the way an attacker does.
Ride Along Penetration Testing
Ride Along Pentesting embeds our consultants directly with your internal security team, working side-by-side instead of independently. Your team gets a front-row seat to our techniques and methodology, letting them pick up skills in real time as the engagement unfolds. It’s a hands-on way to level up your team while still getting a full assessment.
Testing that trains your team while it runs.
Time-Boxed Penetration Testing
Time-Boxed Pentesting focuses effort on your highest-priority assets within a set window, instead of trying to cover everything at once. It’s a strong fit for large environments, budget-conscious teams, or anyone just getting started with testing. We work to set the scope through a quick scoping call, so the timeframe fits your risk profile, instead of a generic template.
Focused coverage, built to fit your timeline.
An evaluation of your security program against the PCI Data Security Standard, covering PCI security assessments, self-assessment support, and advising on scope, applicability, and controls. You get direct access to a Qualified Security Assessor who speaks plainly and knows the standard inside and out.
Led by the “PCI Guy” himself – Jeff Man.
Pentesting
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Have a question that isn’t answered here?
See our full FAQ page.
What is a Penetration Test and why is it important?
A penetration test simulates attacks on your systems to identify vulnerabilities and potential entry points before malicious actors can exploit them. Unlike an external threat actor, a pentester is performing tests with your explicit permission, and reporting all findings directly to your security team to fix. Penetration testing helps organizations proactively reduce risk, comply with regulatory requirements (such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GLBA), assess security control effectiveness, and protect critical assets like customer data and intellectual property. Effective testing requires comprehensive coverage, experienced professionals, and risk-focused analysis rather than automated scanning alone.
What is the Penetration Testing process?
The penetration testing process includes three phases:
- Before testing, we conduct scoping calls to define objectives and develop a customized Statement of Work.
- During testing, we follow relevant testing methodologies specific to your test type, maintain regular communication, and provide 24/7 availability for concerns.
- After testing, we deliver a draft report for review, schedule an optional debrief call, and finalize findings with actionable recommendations.
Retesting and attestation letters are available upon request.
How do I prepare for a Penetration Test?
There are key steps your team can take to ensure you are properly prepared, which ensures that testing starts on schedule and maximizes value. These requirements should be complete before the start of testing, and include:
- Provisioning multiple user accounts for different roles
- Ensuring code stability (it should pass QA first)
- Whitelisting tester IPs in perimeter controls when appropriate
- Providing necessary testing assets like application binaries or API documentation.
Plan for administrative tasks like VPN access and change windows at least a week in advance. Clear communication through a kickoff call helps identify potential delays before they impact testing quality or timeline.
How much does a Penetration Test Cost?
Most penetration tests range from $10,000 to $45,000, depending on scope (type, breadth, and depth of testing) and the vendor’s hourly rate ($200-$500/hr). A single web application typically costs less than comprehensive internal and external network testing. Factors like compliance requirements, after-hours testing, and retesting affect pricing. Control costs by clearly defining scope, providing detailed information upfront, and bundling multiple tests.
What are the ethical and legal considerations for Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing requires explicit authorization, clear documentation of scope, and strict confidentiality protocols. Testers must be transparent about their methods and ensure testing doesn’t harm systems or stakeholders. Organizations must comply with regulations like the CFAA, ECPA, and GDPR, maintain detailed testing records, and work with qualified professionals to mitigate liability. Proper planning ensures testing is both effective and responsible.
What are the risks of a Penetration Test?
Penetration testing carries inherent risks including potential system outages, inadvertent exposure of sensitive data, masking of real attacks, and temporary productivity loss. The biggest risk factors stem from inexperienced testers or unexpected system behaviors. Choosing an experienced, reputable testing partner with clear communication protocols and rules of engagement significantly minimizes these risks while maximizing the value of your security assessment.
What's the difference between API and Web Application Pentests?
A web application pentest examines the application as users interact with it, including browser-based vulnerabilities and the API calls the application makes. An API pentest focuses on the backend logic, authorization, and authentication mechanisms of the API itself. Since web applications often use only a small portion of an API’s total functionality, testing just the web app can leave significant API vulnerabilities unexamined. Organizations relying on internal or third-party APIs need testing that covers both layers.
Read More About The Difference Between Web App and API Pentests Here ›
How is my data protected during and after Penetration Testing?
Reputable penetration testing firms protect your data through three core principles:
- Discretion in what data is accessed and how
- Secure transmission and storage using encrypted channels and AES-256 encryption at rest
- Strict retention policies that destroy test artifacts shortly after report finalization.
Testers exercise judgment to minimize unnecessary data collection, using screenshots and redaction when possible. All data handling follows responsible security practices, with customizable retention periods available to meet your operational or regulatory requirements.
Can we see a sample report from a Penetration Test?
Absolutely. Any reputable penetration testing company should provide sample reports upon request. Reports are your primary deliverable and should include an executive summary, testing narrative, detailed findings with risk ratings, replication steps for verification, and actionable remediation recommendations. Not all reports are created equal, so reviewing samples helps ensure the format and content meet your needs. Most companies will accommodate reasonable modifications to reporting formats.
What is Professionally Evil Testing as a Service (PETaaS®)?
PETaaS® is on-demand pentesting services, which provides you with continuous access to our penetration testing expertise rather than a one-time assessment. This approach offers on-demand or scheduled testing, which integrates with your software development lifecycle, and delivers regular vulnerability analysis with ongoing support. While it may initially appear more expensive than traditional testing, PETaaS® is significantly more cost-effective than hiring full-time security staff and provides proactive, real-time vulnerability identification.
Note: The industry lacks a standard definition for penetration testing as a service, so verify that your provider’s approach aligns with your expectations.
Recognized authority and trusted guidance built on years of uncovering risks for organizations like yours.
The Real AI Revolution in Penetration Testing
Why the Human Element Still Matters in Modern Penetration Testing
