Network Testing
A scanner finds open ports. We find out what an attacker does with them.
CREST-accredited · Built around your scope.
Through network penetration testing (or pentesting), you see exactly where your network defenses have gaps. We simulate real-world attacks against your internal and external infrastructure to uncover the paths an attacker could take, not just the ports that happen to be open.
Whether you need to meet PCI DSS or HIPAA requirements, validate a recent segmentation project, or simply want to know where you stand, network testing gives you the clarity to make informed decisions.
Our testing reveals more than a list of vulnerabilities. You’ll understand how a single foothold could chain into full domain compromise, what data is at risk, and which issues pose the greatest threat to your business. Every finding comes with clear, practical steps your team can take to close it.
After the test, you’ll know where you’re vulnerable, what it would take to exploit those weaknesses, and how to prioritize remediation based on validated risks, not theoretical scenarios.
Fill out the form to scope your network pentest.
Let's Talk About Your Network
Tell us about your internal or external networks 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)
CIO
Retail
External, Internal, or Both
Network penetration testing evaluates the security of your organization’s internal and external infrastructure, systems, and services. Testing focuses on identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and attack paths from the perspective of a threat actor operating either inside or outside your network perimeter.
Most organizations need both views, because they each provide different perspectives on what an attacker could accomplish. Combining the two types of tests gives you the clearest picture of the risks to your environment.
Outside In
Inside Out
Full Picture
Scoped together, tested together, and reported as one engagement. This test includes both Internal and External network testing, providing a complete view of your organization’s risks while saving the cost of scoping each separately.
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.
Understanding What Could Go Wrong Helps You Make It Right
Your internal and external networks are composed of devices, applications, services, and systems that have evolved as your organization has grown. Over time, this can also lead to security gaps and flaws that may leave your data vulnerable to attacks. A weak password gets guessed, a misconfigured share gets browsed, a service account gets cracked, and suddenly an attacker who started with nothing has the keys to your Active Directory. Our team sees cases like this regularly, where the issue isn’t a single vulnerability but the chain that one issue can expose.
These kinds of vulnerabilities are exactly why network testing remains one of the highest-value assessments an organization can run. For organizations under PCI DSS, HIPAA, or similar regulatory frameworks, this same testing also satisfies recurring assessment requirements.
Testing From the Inside
Internal Network testing evaluates your internal network security from the perspective of a threat actor who has already gained access. Our consultants identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and attack paths that could allow privilege escalation, lateral movement, or access to sensitive data and critical systems. These engagements include the following types of testing:
Some of the most common internal network penetration test types are:
Deliverable: Each engagement includes a detailed report documenting vulnerabilities, attack paths, and actionable recommendations to prioritize remediation.
Cybersecurity doesn’t price on a fixed menu, but you shouldn’t have to talk to sales just to know if you’re in the right neighborhood. Use the table below to estimate where your environment lands before you request a real scope:
| Type | Scope | Flat Fee | PETaaS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | ≤100 hosts / 3 Class C | 5 days / $13,600 | 5 credits / $12,600 |
| Average | ≤500 hosts / 1 Class B | 8 days / $21,760 | 8 credits / $20,160 |
| Large | ≤5,000 hosts / 100 Class B | 13 days / $35,360 | 13 credits / $32,760 |
| Enterprise | 5,000+ hosts / 100+ Class B | 25 days / $68,000 | 25 credits / $63,000 |
Note: These are starting-point estimates to help you gauge investment, not a quote. Your actual scope and cost depend on your specific environment, complexity, and objectives.
Testing From the Outside
External penetration tests evaluate the Internet-facing infrastructure from the perspective of a remote attacker with no prior internal access. We identify and attempt to exploit vulnerabilities across your external attack surface, including web servers, mail gateways, VPN endpoints, DNS, cloud services, and other publicly exposed assets. These engagements include the following types of testing:
Some of the most common external network penetration test types are:
Deliverable: Each engagement includes a detailed report documenting vulnerabilities, methods used to discover and exploit them, and actionable recommendations to reduce external risk.
Cybersecurity doesn’t price on a fixed menu, but you shouldn’t have to talk to sales just to know if you’re in the right neighborhood. Use the table below to estimate where your environment lands before you request a real scope:
| Type | Scope | Flat Fee | PETaaS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | ≤10 live hosts | 3 days / $8,160 | 3 credits / $7,560 |
| Average | ≤100 live hosts | 5 days / $13,600 | 5 credits / $12,600 |
| Large | ≤1,000 live hosts | 10 days / $27,200 | 10 credits / $25,200 |
Note: These are starting-point estimates to help you gauge investment, not a quote. Your actual scope and cost depend on your specific environment, complexity, and objectives.
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.
Beyond the Test
A Point-in-Time Test only tells you about one specific point in time.
Your network changes constantly. New devices join, patches lag, credentials get reused, and a network that was clean six months ago may not be clean today. PETaaS® (Professionally Evil Testing as a Service) turns your network pentest from an annual checkbox into an ongoing program, with prepaid credits you can deploy across network testing, application testing, or advisory work as your needs shift, plus advisory support built in at no additional cost.
Attackers don’t wait for your next scheduled test. Neither should you.
Have a question that isn’t answered here?
See our full FAQ page.
How long does a network pentest take?
It depends, as timelines scale with scope. A small external test typically runs about three days, while a large internal engagement can run for 13 days or more. Your quote will include a specific timeline based on your host and IP counts.
Will testing disrupt our production network?
It may, but we try to avoid disruption as much as possible. Our team coordinates testing windows and communicates continuously throughout the engagement to minimize risk to production systems.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) style attacks are excluded by default unless specifically requested, as they tend to be disruptive by nature.
What's the difference between internal and external testing?
The difference is where the penetration tester starts testing in relation to your network perimeter.
- External testing simulates an attacker on the open Internet with no prior access.
- Internal testing simulates an attacker who already has some level of access to your internal network, such as a compromised workstation.
Do you provide a device, or install software on our network?
For internal testing, we typically use a small device or virtual machine we call the Secure Ideas Attack Machine (SIAM). The SIAM is a custom-configured Kali Linux box, loaded with the tools our consultants need for internal network penetration testing. The SIAM is our tester’s workstation, which they can access without needing to be in your office. After connecting it to your network, the SIAM establishes an outbound connection back to our infrastructure over a VPN. From there, consultants can work against your internal environment.
Does a network pentest satisfy PCI DSS or HIPAA requirements?
Yes. Network pentests are commonly used to meet recurring assessment requirements under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and similar frameworks.
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.
Other Pentesting Focuses
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.
Recognized authority and trusted guidance built on years of uncovering risks for organizations like yours.
