Network01
Network Penetration Testing
External and internal network testing of firewalls, servers, DNS, and email infrastructure, looking for the real paths an attacker would take to reach your data, not just a list of open ports.
Penetration Testing Services · Offensive Security
Penetration Testing Services: see what an attacker could really do
Network, web app, API, and cloud testing that proves your real risk, not a checkbox. Our penetration testing services simulate how a determined attacker would actually breach you, then hand you a prioritized, fixable plan and the evidence your auditors expect.
Why InterSec
VRS Pentesting BPACommonwealth of Virginia BPA for penetration testing & security assessment
ISO 27001 / 42001 / 9001Information & AI mgmt + Quality
Commercial & Federal proofFinTech, IIoT, and public-sector engagements delivered
Method-driven testingPTES · OWASP · NIST SP 800-115 · OSSTMM
Certified offensive testersOSCP · CEH · CREST · GPEN
Compliance-alignedEvidence for CMMC, PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP
SBA SDB · NMSDC MBEMinority-owned Virginia corporation
Tested for
FinTech / Wealth Intelligence Global IIoT Provider Commonwealth of Virginia Defense Industrial Base SaaS & Technology Healthcare & Financial
The basics
What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing is a controlled, authorized attack on your systems, applications, or people, run by security professionals to find exploitable weaknesses before criminals do. Unlike an automated scan that only reports known issues, a penetration test proves what an attacker could actually achieve, showing the real path from an exposed entry point to a business-damaging outcome like stolen data or full network control.
Automated scan
Tells you a door might be unlocked. A list of known, potential issues, often noisy and without business context.
Penetration test
Opens the door, shows you what is behind it, and tells you how to lock it for good. Proven, exploitable risk ranked by real-world impact.
Want the full breakdown of methods, types, and standards? Read our complete guide to penetration testing.
What we test
Penetration testing services for every part of your attack surface
Different risks call for different tests. We scope the right type, or layer several, so the engagement reflects how an attacker would really come at your environment, your applications, and your people.
Web & API02
Web Application & API Testing
We test custom and public-facing apps, and the APIs behind them, against the OWASP Top 10 and the business-logic flaws scanners miss: injection, broken access control, authentication bypass, and exposed REST and GraphQL endpoints that lead straight to your data.
Cloud03
Cloud Penetration Testing
Most cloud breaches start with customer-side misconfiguration. We validate AWS, Azure, and GCP configurations, IAM policies, and exposed services against the permissions and privilege paths attackers love to abuse.
IoT / OT / ICS04
IoT, OT & ICS Penetration Testing
Connected devices and industrial control systems carry risk that standard IT testing overlooks. We test device firmware, wireless protocols, and control environments like Modbus and DNP3, drawing on field work securing tens of thousands of live industrial devices.
Wireless05
Wireless Network Testing
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless connections can hand an intruder a foothold inside the perimeter. We test for weak encryption, rogue access points, and insecure configurations.
Social engineering06
Social Engineering & Phishing
People are tested less often than firewalls, and attackers know it. Where it is in scope, we run controlled phishing, pretexting, and baiting to gauge awareness and find the gaps in your human processes.
Red team07
Red Team & Attack Simulation
A goal-oriented, full-scope simulation that chains vulnerabilities across people, process, and technology, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK, to measure how your defenses hold up against a determined adversary.
Not sure which test you need? We help you scope to your real risk, then test what an attacker would actually target, not a generic list.
How we test
Our penetration testing methodology: structured, not improvised
A professional penetration test is a disciplined process grounded in established standards. We follow recognized methodologies, PTES, the OWASP testing guides, NIST SP 800-115, OSSTMM, and MITRE ATT&CK for mapping attacker behavior, in a clear, repeatable sequence, so the result is thorough, defensible, and reproducible.
PHASE 01
Scoping & Recon
We define objectives, rules of engagement, and a precise in-scope boundary, then gather intelligence on your infrastructure, applications, and exposure.
Defined objectives & scope Rules of engagement Recon & footprinting
PHASE 02
Analysis & Exploitation
We formulate attacks from the discovered surface and safely exploit weaknesses to demonstrate what an attacker could actually achieve, escalating and pivoting where authorized.
Validated exploit paths Privilege escalation Demonstrated impact
PHASE 03
Reporting & Debrief
Every engagement ends with a written report and a live walkthrough: an executive summary that translates findings into business risk, plus reproducible technical detail.
Executive + technical report Prioritized findings Verbal debrief & Q&A
PHASE 04
Remediation & Retest
We support your team through remediation with practical, prioritized guidance, then retest the fixes to confirm the gaps are genuinely closed.
Remediation guidance Fix verification Retest of findings
PTES
Penetration Testing Execution Standard
A detailed technical guideline built around the attacker's mindset, covering information gathering, exploitation, and techniques for evading modern controls like EDR.
OWASP
OWASP Testing Guide & Top 10
The gold standard for web and API security testing, directing effort toward injection, broken access control, cryptographic failures, and, increasingly, LLM-specific risks.
NIST
NIST SP 800-115
The NIST technical guide to information security testing and assessment, widely referenced for federal and DIB engagements and structured, repeatable test planning.
OSSTMM
Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual
Known for quantifiable results, OSSTMM defines metrics that gauge security based on discovered vulnerabilities, their complexity, and their business impact.
For the full methodology, frameworks, and test types, read our complete guide to penetration testing.
What you get
Clear scope, a usable report, and fixes you can verify
The deliverable is not a 200-page scanner export. It is a focused understanding of your real risk, written for the people who have to act on it, from the board to the engineers doing the remediation.
Scoping that fits your risk
- A scope tied to a real business objective, not a generic checklist
- Clear rules of engagement and in-scope vs. out-of-scope decisions
- The right test type and depth for your environment and budget
A report you can act on
- An executive summary that frames findings as business risk
- Reproducible technical detail with evidence for each finding
- A real sample report we walk you through on your scoping call
Prioritized, verifiable fixes
- Findings ranked by real exploitability and impact, not raw severity
- Practical remediation guidance your team can work through
- Retesting to confirm the gaps are actually closed
See the real thing. Ask for a redacted sample penetration testing report on your scoping call, so you know exactly what your team will receive before any testing begins.
Request a sample report Pricing
How much does a penetration test cost?
There is no flat rate, because no two environments are the same. The price of a penetration test is scoped to the work: what you want tested, how deeply, and whether the results have to satisfy a specific compliance framework. Rather than sell a package, we scope to your environment and give you a fixed, transparent number before anything starts.
Scope & targets
How many systems, applications, or IPs fall inside the boundary you want tested.
Type of testing
A single web app is a very different effort from a full internal network or red team.
Depth of engagement
How far you want us to push, from surface coverage to deep exploitation and pivoting.
Compliance requirements
Framework-aligned reporting and evidence for CMMC, PCI, SOC 2, or FedRAMP add scope.
For a fuller breakdown of what drives penetration testing cost, read our complete guide to penetration testing, or book a scoping call for a fixed quote on your environment.
Compliance-driven testing
The pen test your framework requires, done right
Many regulations and frameworks treat penetration testing as a condition of doing business, not an optional extra. We came up through federal and regulated work, so we test with the framework in mind from day one and deliver the auditable evidence assessors expect, not a generic findings dump you have to translate. Many teams pair a broad vulnerability assessment with focused penetration testing to cover both breadth and depth. When your test has to satisfy a specific framework, our compliance penetration testing maps each finding to the control evidence your assessor expects.
- CMMC Level 2 and NIST SP 800-171 expect penetration testing for defense contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information.
- PCI DSS requires regular testing for organizations that store or process payment card data.
- SOC 2 attestations frequently rely on penetration testing to validate security controls.
- HIPAA security risk analysis and FedRAMP authorizations expect testing of in-scope systems.
Pen testing inside a compliance program
Testing is most valuable when it feeds your wider compliance and remediation effort.
Evidence for assessorsReport-ready
Mapped to your frameworkCMMC · PCI · SOC 2
Findings into remediationPrioritized
Pursuing CMMC? We pair penetration testing with full CMMC compliance consulting, so your test results plug straight into your SSP, POA&M, and evidence package.
Proof, not promises
Real penetration testing engagements, real risk reduced
From a FinTech firm protecting high-value financial data, to a global IIoT provider securing tens of thousands of devices, to the federal judiciary keeping 22 interconnected systems continuously authorized, here is what method-driven testing actually delivered.
ICS / IIoTModbus · DNP352,000+ customers
Global IIoT Provider · 2,000+ device SKUs · 39B+ data readings
Specialized ICS penetration testing cut major exploitable flaws by 90 percent.
A leading Industrial IoT provider relied on control protocols like Modbus, DNP3, and RS-232 that standard pen tests routinely miss. InterSec built a specialized lab that emulated real industrial conditions, ran hardware and firmware analysis, and prioritized testing by operational impact, all while minimizing disruption to live device fleets.
90%
Reduction in major exploitable flaws
52,000+
Global customers protected
ICS
Protocol-specific testing
Lab
Real-world emulation
ICS/IoT penetration testing for a major IoT provider How ICS-aware testing cut major IoT flaws by 90%
FinTechBug bounty
Wealth Intelligence Company · 20+ years in FinTech
A bug-bounty-style program cut critical vulnerabilities by 75 percent.
Traditional tests were not surfacing critical threats fast enough for stakeholders. InterSec introduced a bug bounty approach focused on valid, high-impact vulnerabilities, with rapid triage and transparent reporting that reinforced investor confidence.
75%
Critical vulnerabilities reduced
Cost-efficient
Spend focused on real risk
FederalRed team
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts · 22 interconnected subsystems
Red teaming kept the federal judiciary continuously authorized.
Sensitive legal data spread across 22 interconnected subsystems that had to stay assessment-ready. InterSec ran red team and advanced penetration testing alongside policy review and user education, surfacing what vulnerability scans miss and keeping DOJ and FISMA obligations met.
22
Subsystems kept authorized
FISMA · DOJ
Requirements fully met
Choosing a provider
How to choose a penetration testing company
Not every penetration testing company delivers the same thing, and the gap between providers is wide. Before you shortlist penetration testing service providers, these are the questions worth asking, and the standard we hold our own work to.
Human testers, not just a scanner
A scan lists potential issues; a person proves what an attacker could do with them. Look for certified offensive specialists (OSCP, CEH, CREST, GPEN) who test by hand.
A named, repeatable methodology
Ask which standards guide the work. Ours follow PTES, the OWASP guides, NIST SP 800-115, OSSTMM, and MITRE ATT&CK, so results are thorough and defensible.
Fluency in your framework
Testing you can put in front of an assessor is worth more than a generic report. Confirm the provider can map findings to CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, or FedRAMP.
Reporting you can act on
You should get an executive summary and reproducible technical detail, findings ranked by real risk, and plain-language fixes. Ask to see a redacted sample report.
Retesting after you remediate
The job is not done at the report. Make sure the provider verifies your fixes held once your team has closed the gaps, rather than handing over a list and walking away.
Independence from products
A firm that sells software has a reason to steer you toward it. InterSec sells services, not tools, so the only agenda is finding your real risk and helping you close it.
Why InterSec
Testers who think like attackers and report like consultants
A penetration test is only as good as the people running it and the report they hand back. Our penetration testing consulting services pair offensive skill with the business context that makes findings actionable.
Cleared, certified offensive specialists
Our testing is run by experienced offensive security practitioners who hold industry certifications including OSCP, CEH, CREST, and GPEN, and who simulate real adversary tradecraft, not point-and-click scanning.
Findings translated into business risk
We turn a technical finding into the language leadership acts on: what an attacker could reach, what it would cost you, and what to fix first.
Ethical, low-disruption engagements
Informed consent, a defined scope, confidentiality, and minimized disruption are built into every engagement, with production systems handled carefully.
Public-sector and commercial track record
InterSec holds the VRS Pentesting BPA with the Commonwealth of Virginia and has delivered testing across FinTech, IIoT, and federal and state programs.
Frequently asked
Penetration testing questions, answered
How much do penetration testing services cost?
Pricing is scoped to the engagement: the type of test (network, web application, API, cloud, wireless, social engineering, or red team), the size of the attack surface, the depth of testing, and your timeline. A focused web application test is a very different effort from a multi-environment red team exercise.
We do not sell a one-size-fits-all package. The fastest way to a real number is a short scoping call, after which we give you a clear, fixed scope and quote.
How long does a penetration test take?
Most focused engagements run from one to several weeks end to end, including scoping, active testing, and reporting. The active testing window depends on the size and complexity of the in-scope environment. We confirm the timeline with you during scoping so there are no surprises.
What is the difference between a penetration test and a vulnerability scan?
A vulnerability scan is an automated inventory tool that lists potential, theoretical weaknesses, often a high volume of them, without business context. A penetration test is a human-led, intelligence-driven simulation of a real attack that exploits and chains weaknesses to show what an attacker could actually achieve.
Put simply: a scan tells you what might be wrong; a penetration test proves what an attacker could do about it. For a fuller explanation, see our complete guide to penetration testing.
Should we test our network or our web applications first?
It depends on what you are protecting and why. If most of your risk sits in custom, internet-facing software, a web application and API test is usually the priority. If you are concerned about perimeter exposure, lateral movement, or insider threat, network testing comes first. Many organizations layer both for a complete picture, and we will help you decide during scoping.
How often should we perform penetration testing?
An attack surface changes constantly: new code, new systems, and new staff all introduce risk, so a test from even six months ago can be out of date. We recommend at least an annual test, more frequent testing for critical assets, and a test after any significant system change, a major release, or a remediated breach. Several compliance frameworks expect testing on a regular cadence.
Do your penetration tests satisfy compliance requirements?
Yes. Many frameworks require or expect penetration testing, including CMMC Level 2, NIST SP 800-171, PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and FedRAMP. Our reports are written to provide the auditable evidence these frameworks call for, while still surfacing the real risk in your environment rather than just checking a box.
What is the difference between a penetration test and a vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment casts a wide net to find and rank known weaknesses across your environment. A penetration test goes deep on a focused set of targets and proves how far an attacker could actually exploit them. Many organizations run both, and they complement each other.
If you need broad coverage and prioritization first, start with our vulnerability assessment services; when you need proof of real-world impact, add penetration testing.
Who performs the testing?
Experienced InterSec offensive-security practitioners, not automated tools running on their own. Our testers hold recognized industry certifications including OSCP, CEH, CREST, and GPEN, and simulate real adversary tradecraft by hand. You work with the same team from scoping through the debrief.
Find out what an attacker could really do
A short scoping call with one of our practitioners. We will help you choose the right test, define a precise scope, and give you a clear, fixed quote, with no obligation.
Booked through Microsoft Bookings · NDA on request · Zero obligation
- The right test type for your environment and risk
- A precise, fixed scope and clear quote
- Executive and technical reporting, plus a live debrief
- Remediation guidance and a retest of the fixes