Reliable Testing for Internet-Facing Systems

External Infrastructure Penetration Testing

Anything exposed to the internet is constantly tested by attackers. A single misconfiguration or outdated service can give them a way in, putting your systems, reputation, and data at risk.

Our External Infrastructure Penetration Testing service simulates real-world, internet-originated attacks against your public-facing assets to identify exploitable weaknesses before they are abused. We assess your externally reachable infrastructure, IPs, web and API endpoints, cloud-hosted services, VPNs, DNS, and email infrastructure, using a blend of open-source intelligence gathering (OSINT), automated scanning and manual exploitation.

By testing from the outside-in, we help you prioritise fixes that reduce your attack surface, harden external defences, and lower the risk of compromise, data loss, and service disruption.

Good Things To Know

Helps to identify known internet-facing vulnerabilities before attackers do
Identifies the digital footprint and level of exposure to the public internet.
Includes OSINT discovery to reveal forgotten assets and leaked credentials
Tests DNS, email, and cloud-hosted servers for misconfigurations
Verifies exposure on the dark web and public leaks (optional)
Delivers actionable remediation steps and risk-prioritised findings

External Infrastructure Penetration Testing FAQs

What is External Infrastructure Penetration Testing?

External testing consists of security assessments originating from the public internet against your company’s externally reachable assets.

The goal is to find weaknesses an attacker could exploit without prior access to your internal network.

Why is External Infrastructure Penetration Testing important?

Attackers exploit internet-exposed weaknesses to gain access, escalate privileges, and move laterally.

External testing reduces the chance of successful intrusion, service downtime, data theft, or reputational damage by identifying and remediating exposed risks.

Who benefits from External Infrastructure Penetration Tests?

Any company with public-facing services, websites, APIs, mail servers, VPNs, cloud services, or remote access solutions.

It’s critical for businesses handling customer data, regulated industries, e-commerce platforms, and SaaS providers.

When should External Infrastructure Penetration Tests be performed?

External penetration testing should be conducted regularly and during key changes to your company’s external-facing environment.

It’s recommended to test at least annually and after major updates such as new public-facing services, websites, APIs, mail servers, VPNs, cloud services, or remote access solutions.

How are External Infrastructure Penetration Tests conducted?

We blend automated discovery and scanning with manual verification and exploitation.

Typical steps include, scope definition and rules-of-engagement, external discovery (OSINT), vulnerability scanning, manual verification/exploitation of high-risk issues, and post-exploit impact analysis.

Tests can be black box (no prior info), grey box (partial info), or white box (full disclosure), depending on business requirements.

What is included in the scope of an External Infrastructure Penetration Test?

You provide public IPs, domains, and any exclusions.

We’ll search for subdomains, CDN endpoints, and cloud services that may be in-scope.

You tell us the desired methodology (black/grey/white box), whether OSINT and dark web exposure checks are required, and any hosts or services that are off-limits.

What support do I get during the External Infrastructure Penetration Test?

You will have direct and dedicated access to our consultants throughout the engagement.

We provide daily progress calls, immediate alerts for any findings above an agreed CVSS severity level, and ongoing communication to minimise disruption to your business operations.

Our team conducts all work with professionalism and discretion, and we are available to answer any questions you may have during (and after) the test.

What support do I get during the External Infrastructure Penetration Test?

What do I receive after the External Infrastructure Penetration Test?

You will receive a comprehensive, prioritised report detailing all identified vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security risks. Each finding is accompanied by practical remediation guidance to help your technical teams implement fixes effectively.

The report is concise and bloat-free, focusing on the essentials to provide clear, actionable insight for both technical staff and management. To aid understanding, where practical, we supplement the report with video demonstrations of exploits, showing your team exactly how vulnerabilities were identified and exploited.

If required, a debrief session is included to review the results and discuss next steps.

Is External Infrastructure Penetration Testing cost-effective?

Yes. Identifying vulnerabilities in your external systems before attackers do is far more cost-effective than recovering from a breach.

Early testing reduces the likelihood of downtime, data loss, and reputational damage while ensuring that defences remain aligned with current threats.

Regular penetration testing also helps avoid costly incidents, supports compliance, and demonstrates due diligence to clients and regulators.

Get In Touch

Our team is available to help you with your next Penetration Test, Cloud Security Audit, or Cyber Essentials Assessment.

Whether you are launching a new platform, expanding an existing service, reviewing your defences, or strengthening your security posture, we can provide a tailored engagement that meets your specific needs and scope.

Contact us today to discuss your requirements and see how we can help you protect your business with confidence.

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