Penetration Testing Services
Always Human. Always Tech-enabled. Always Secure.
Expert-led penetration testing, underpinned by cutting-edge technology, to discover security flaws before attackers do.
Your vulnerabilities will be found. Make sure it's by someone who can prove it.
Your vulnerabilities will be found. Make sure it's by someone who can prove it.
Your vulnerabilities will be found. Make sure it's by someone who can prove it.
An AI scan can't explain what a finding means. A bot can't sign a report. When your board, your insurer or your auditor asks who tested this, you need a real answer. That's what we deliver: AI speed, backed by a named expert's judgement, on every penetration test..
At WorkNest, our Penetration Testing services cover a wide range of endpoint categories, including App, Network, Cloud, Web, and API.
Every engagement is delivered by our in-house cyber security specialists, industry-leading experts and backed by GuardNest, our proprietary platform offering dynamic, intelligent threat reporting alongside a suite of complementary tools and services.
Tests simulate different types of attacks, including SQL injection, denial of service (DoS), and man-in-the-middle (MiTM). By finding vulnerabilities, analysts can assess an organisation's security measures and provide an improvement plan.
Built differently, on purpose
Built differently, on purpose
Built differently, on purpose
Real security isn't a checkbox, a bot, or a stranger you'll never speak to again. It's a team that knows your systems, stands behind every finding, and stays with you long after the report lands.
AI-only pen testing tools can't stand behind a finding
Other platforms rotate strangers. We don't.
Standalone vendors add complexity. We're one platform from for your whole journey.
Point-in-time penetration tests go stale. GuardNest keeps you covered between them.
Your choice. If you want or need a human-only test, we do it.
Real security isn't a checkbox, a bot, or a stranger you'll never speak to again. It's a team that knows your systems, stands behind every finding, and stays with you long after the report lands.
AI-only pen testing tools can't stand behind a finding
Other platforms rotate strangers. We don't.
Standalone vendors add complexity. We're one platform from for your whole journey.
Point-in-time penetration tests go stale. GuardNest keeps you covered between them.
Your choice. If you want or need a human-only test, we do it.
Enhanced
AI-enhanced discovery. More results, delivered in less time.
Accountable
Every finding validated by a certified consultant
Board-Ready
We give you risks you can defend and fix, not just a PDF full of CVEs
Everything, in one place, on GuardNest
Everything, in one place, on GuardNest
Everything, in one place, on GuardNest
No multiple entities. No multiple reports. No more impossible question: are we secure, right now? GuardNest gives you a single, live view, so cyber risk finally sits inside your risk framework, not scattered across inboxes.
Group-wide visibility across every business unit and jurisdiction
Live, audit-ready reporting - no static PDFs
Direct line to the experts who tested you
Global threat intelligence, built in
Scales from a single entity to a full multinational group
CHECK and CREST accredited testing
CHECK and CREST accredited testing
CHECK and CREST accredited testing
Trust matters when your security is on the line. Every engagement is led by our in-house cyber security specialists, CHECK and CREST certified experts held to the highest industry standards, so you get results you can act on with confidence.
Trust matters when your security is on the line. Every engagement is led by our in-house cyber security specialists, CHECK and CREST certified experts held to the highest industry standards, so you get results you can act on with confidence.
Our Penetration Testing services
CHECK Penetration Testing
Conducted by CHECK-certified consultants, ensuring compliance with NCSC and CREST standards.
We deliver infrastructure, web application, and IT Health Check assessments that combine rigorous technical testing with regulatory assurance for the highest-security environments.
Application Security
We identify vulnerabilities across web, mobile, desktop, and API-based applications through real-world attack simulations, static analysis, and targeted reviews.
Our assessments cover the full threat spectrum - from insecure authentication and data exposure to unsafe input handling - across diverse technology stacks.
Network Infrastructure & Architecture Security
We identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and privilege escalation paths across your entire network - from Active Directory and firewalls to VPNs and WiFi.
Our real-world attack simulations deliver clear risk ratings and actionable remediation steps to strengthen your security posture.
Cloud and Container Security Services
We uncover and remediate vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and containerised environments, including Docker and Kubernetes.
We also review Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 configurations against current security best practices.
PSN IT Health Check (ITHC)
Ensure PSN compliance with comprehensive IT health checks.
We identify vulnerabilities, streamline audits, and deliver actionable guidance to strengthen security across internal and external systems, protecting public data and maintaining robust assurance.
Social Engineering
We simulate targeted social engineering attacks to expose human and physical security gaps.
From phishing and vishing to OSINT and black team operations, our assessments deliver actionable intelligence to build organisational resilience against manipulation and intrusion.
LLM Security Assessment
We test AI-powered applications against attack vectors that traditional penetration testing overlooks, including prompt injection, jailbreaking, and sensitive data exposure through model outputs.
Our assessment evaluates guardrail effectiveness, model behaviour under adversarial conditions, and API integrations, aligned to the OWASP Top 10 for LLMs.
Continuous Vulnerability Scanning
We continuously scan your networks, systems, and applications to surface weaknesses before attackers do, covering outdated software, misconfigurations, and exposed entry points.
Every scan is reviewed by our consultants, who filter false positives and deliver prioritised findings with clear remediation guidance.
What is Penetration Testing?
What is Penetration Testing?
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration Testing, also known as pen testing or ethical hacking, tests networks, applications, cloud environments, and other systems to assess security and identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
It simulates different attacks, including SQL injection, denial of service (DoS), and man‑in‑the‑middle (MiTM). By attempting to exploit vulnerabilities, testers gauge the effectiveness of your security measures and identify areas for improvement.
Penetration Testing, also known as pen testing or ethical hacking, tests networks, applications, cloud environments, and other systems to assess security and identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
It simulates different attacks, including SQL injection, denial of service (DoS), and man‑in‑the‑middle (MiTM). By attempting to exploit vulnerabilities, testers gauge the effectiveness of your security measures and identify areas for improvement.
Why conduct a Penetration Test?
Why conduct a Penetration Test?
Why conduct a Penetration Test?
50% of businesses and 32% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in 20241
Identify complex and chained vulnerabilities that automated scanning can miss.
Understand which areas of your systems are vulnerable, enabling informed decisions about where to prioritise security investment.
Comply with standards such as PCI-DSS and DORA, and adhere to frameworks including HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
Uncover weaknesses in your systems that are masked by the internal bias that comes from building, maintaining and working on systems daily.
Methodology
We ensure testing has both depth and breadth by aligning with recognised methodologies such as CREST, OSSTMM, OWASP, and NIST.
This ensures a structured, consistent approach grounded in best practice and real-world threat intelligence.
We follow a clear seven-step process designed to deliver rigorous testing, meaningful insight, and practical remediation guidance at every stage.
We listen to your needs and develop a tailored project strategy, producing a scope that meets your unique requirements.
Where vulnerabilities are successfully exploited, our consultants assess their severity by determining which assets and networks can be accessed and what data may be exposed. Vulnerabilities are then ranked from low to critical within GuardNest.
We scan and enumerate the defined targets to identify existing vulnerabilities. This includes listening for open ports, identifying running services, and developing an attack plan based on the scan results.
Our consultants assess how deeply they can access your systems using leading industry techniques, custom-built tools, and their first-hand experience.
If a consultant successfully exploits a vulnerability, they assess its severity. This involves determining which assets and networks can be accessed and how much information can be gathered. Your vulnerabilities are then ranked from low to critical in GuardNest.
We publish the findings in a report on GuardNest, organised by category and type, with remediation advice for each exploit and vulnerability. On request, we also arrange debrief calls to review identified risks in detail and discuss remediation.
Your GuardNest licence includes continuous external infrastructure scanning to minimise risk between tests. We also offer a remediation check service, and every engagement includes a full consultative approach to ensure ongoing support even after the project is complete.
Why choose WorkNest for Pen Testing?
Security testing should strengthen your organisation - not overwhelm it. At WorkNest, we combine deep technical expertise with practical business understanding to deliver testing that drives measurable improvement.
CHECK & CREST certified
Have your testing conducted by qualified professionals to ensure the highest possible standards.
Expertise and efficiency
We combine human expertise for in-depth analysis with efficient automation for ongoing scanning.
GuardNest platform
Simplifies vulnerability management with real-time reporting, remediation tracking, and expert advice.
Compliance support
We support adherence to relevant industry regulations and standards to avoid the risk of non-compliance.
Remote testing
Our consultants offer thorough internal and external testing without on-site presence.
Wide range of expertise
We offer testing across everything from infrastructure and mobile applications to cloud and IoT environments.
FAQs
Vulnerability scanning uses software to methodically scan for known vulnerabilities. Penetration Testing uses in-depth analysis and human ingenuity to uncover flaws that scanning alone can’t find.
Automated testing supports defences like regular patching, while Penetration Tests provide detailed reports and expert remediation advice. Penetration Testing companies often use both to protect your organisation from cyber threats.
CREST-certified Penetration Testing that ensures qualified professionals use recognised methodologies.
CREST is an international accreditation body certifying cyber security professionals and organisations. It ensures rigorous technical and ethical standards, supports compliance, and guarantees high-quality, repeatable testing.
We offer a variety of Penetration Tests, either as one-offs to spot check your security or on a recurring basis as part of an ongoing strategy.
The type of test depends on your security objectives, technology systems and compliance needs, and often a combination of tests is needed to meet an organisation's goals.
We can work with you to understand your goals and which tests will help you achieve them.
Penetration Testing should be conducted at least once a year, with additional tests after significant infrastructure changes or upgrades. This schedule is supported by best practices, compliance standards and security professionals, and is mandated by standards like PCI DSS.
WorkNest's Penetration Testing is designed to ensure minimal disruption to your operations. Testing can also be performed against a non-production replica of your live environment, such as a UAT or QA environment. A common specification is 'no denial of service (DoS)', meaning tests have a negligible impact on day-to-day operations.
The duration depends on scope, including whether it is internal or external, network size and complexity, and how much information is disclosed upfront.
With our GuardNest platform powering intelligent reporting, more time is dedicated to testing and less to writing reports, resulting in clearer outcomes and more cost-effective testing.
Penetration Testing projects vary in length and complexity depending on factors like the apps and infrastructure being tested, the test’s aims, and its parameters. As a leading UK provider, we take time to understand your objectives to scope a best-fit test that delivers value for money. Our dedicated scoping experts help ensure the best outcome for your Penetration Test.
