With recent high-profile cyber attacks impacting household names like Marks & Spencer, Co-Op, Harrods and Peter Green, the need for robust cybersecurity has never been more urgent.
These incidents underline the importance of understanding and proactively addressing IT vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. One of the best ways to do this is through a penetration test.
Why is penetration testing important?
Penetration testing, often referred to as pen testing, is a key tool in a business’s cybersecurity toolkit. It simulates a real-world attack to uncover weaknesses in your systems so they can be fixed before cybercriminals find them.
The timing couldn’t be more relevant. In 2024, the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported that over 32% of businesses had experienced some form of cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months. For larger organisations and those in regulated sectors, the figure was even higher.
This shows that threats are not just theoretical. They’re happening to businesses of all sizes, across all industries.
What Does a Pen Test Involve?
A penetration test is a controlled and ethical form of hacking carried out by cybersecurity professionals. These testers can be external specialists or trained internal staff. Their job is to think like an attacker and see how far they can get into your systems.
There are several types of pen testing:
- Open-box testing – testers have full knowledge of the system architecture.
- Closed-box (or black-box) testing – simulates an external attack with no prior information, much like a real-world hacker.
- Double-blind testing – only a small number of people in the organisation know the test is happening, to see how your team responds.
The typical stages of a pen test include:
- Planning and reconnaissance – gathering information about your systems and network.
- Scanning – identifying potential vulnerabilities using scanning tools.
- Exploitation – attempting to gain access through the identified weaknesses.
- Maintaining access – simulating what an attacker could do once inside.
- Analysis and reporting – presenting the findings with clear recommendations.
How long does a pen test take?
The time involved can vary based on the size and complexity of your business. A basic test for a small company might take a few days, while a more comprehensive assessment for a larger organisation could take several weeks.
In all cases, you will receive a detailed report with clear, prioritised recommendations.
Does my business need a pen test?
If your business deals with sensitive data, is part of a regulated industry (like insurance, law or finance), or needs to meet compliance standards like PCI-DSS, ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials Plus, then a pen test is essential.
But even if those requirements don’t apply, a pen test is still a wise choice. It gives you a clear understanding of where your vulnerabilities are, helps you better protect customer data, reduces the risk of downtime and financial loss, and shows clients and partners that you take security seriously.
A proactive approach to security
At Coretek, we don’t believe in doing the bare minimum. Our approach to security goes beyond one-off testing and focuses on building long-term resilience through our Security Baselining service.
This process involves checking that your staff have the right level of access, securing your servers and internet-facing systems, hardening your devices to reduce risk, and making sure key security settings are applied across your network. Together, these steps provide a solid foundation that supports and enhances the results of regular pen testing.
Next steps
If you’re considering a pen test or want to explore how our Security Baselining service could help protect your business, we’d love to chat.