Penetration Testing
Using OWASP methodologies and advanced reverse engineering, our ethical hackers carry out penetration tests on web applications and network architectures. We certify the real cyber resilience and exposure of the infrastructure for organizations in Italy and across Europe.
What Penetration Testing Is
Penetration Testing (PT) is a controlled security analysis in which experts simulate real attacks to identify vulnerabilities in information systems. Using advanced tools, the testers try to exploit weaknesses to show how an attack could compromise the integrity of the infrastructure.
Why Run a Penetration Test
A penetration test uncovers hidden vulnerabilities and improves the overall security of systems. It lets organizations find weak points before malicious actors exploit them, reducing risk and protecting sensitive data, company resources and reputation.
Benefits of Penetration Testing
Penetration testing provides an in-depth assessment of a company’s defenses, improving security and reducing risk. Identifying vulnerabilities allows timely corrective measures, increasing protection against real attacks, strengthening the security posture and building trust with customers and partners.
What do we detect?
- Misconfigured permissions that let unauthorized users access sensitive data.
- Unprotected entry points in networks that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access.
- Vulnerabilities in systems, such as unpatched software or weaknesses in code.
How does it work?
- The process includes information gathering, simulated attacks and assessment of the defenses.
- We simulate real attacks to identify vulnerabilities in information systems and networks.
- We try to compromise the systems to test how the company's security responds.
What is a penetration test?
A penetration test is a simulated attack, carried out by hand by an analyst, that starts where an attacker would start and goes as far as it can. It is not an automated scan: a scan lists possible vulnerabilities, a penetration test proves which ones can really be exploited and what can be obtained from them.
Black box, grey box, white box: which one you need
- Black box: no initial information. It reproduces the external attacker, but spends time on reconnaissance.
- Grey box: regular user credentials. It is the mode that yields the most: it answers the question “what can someone with a valid account do”, which is the real scenario of a successful phishing attack or a disloyal employee.
- White box: access to documentation and code. Maximum coverage, ideal before a release.
How long it takes and how often to repeat it
The practical rule is one test a year, plus one at every architectural change or major release. Duration depends on the surface: a contained external perimeter is done in days, a complex application with several user profiles takes weeks. The verification retest after the fixes is part of the job: without it, you do not know whether the flaw has really been closed.
What we deliver
A two-level report: a summary that management can read, with risk expressed in business terms, and reproducible technical detail for those who have to remediate. Every vulnerability has a severity, a documented exploitation path and a concrete fix, not the raw output of an automated tool.
What is NOT included
The penetration test does not include fixing the vulnerabilities, which is a separate activity and usually the IT provider’s job. It is not a vulnerability assessment, which covers more surface at less depth and is the starting point when the perimeter is not yet mapped. It is not red teaming, which also tests detection and response capabilities. And it does not include attacks that degrade the service: system availability is never compromised without written agreement.
Related topics
Activities that complete an offensive security program: OSINT and open source intelligence · web reputation · red teaming · secure software development
Penetration Testing from Italy for Companies in Europe
We are an offensive security lab based in the province of Verona, Italy: penetration tests can take place on site when the internal perimeter requires it, while activities on the exposed perimeter are carried out remotely, for clients across Europe.
The typical path starts with a vulnerability assessment that maps the weaknesses, and continues with the penetration test on the targets that really matter: it is the order that maximizes the value of both.
How Much a Penetration Test Costs
The cost depends on the scope (how many applications and systems), the approach (black box, grey box, white box) and the depth of the checks. A test on a single web application and a test on the whole infrastructure are very different assignments.
The quote is quick when the question is defined: tell us the goal and the scope and we will reply with scope, timing and rules of engagement.
Definitions: penetration test · vulnerability assessment in the cybersecurity glossary.
Related Defensio products: continuous vulnerability scanning · on-premise attack surface management