External penetration testing services
An external penetration test evaluates your Internet-facing systems for security vulnerabilities. By simulating real-world attacks from outside your perimeter, your organization gains valuable insight into potential external cyber threats most likely to breach your network infrastructure and the required corrective measures to prevent it.
What you'll get after conducting an external pentest:
- High level results & risk management implications for non-technical stakeholders
- Technical report with prioritized vulnerabilities & recommended fixes
- Expert guidance on external network security posture improvement strategies
- Attestation to meet compliance requirements (SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, etc.)
What is an external penetration test?
At Vumetric, we offer External Penetration Testing services designed to simulate real-world hacking scenarios. By simulating the hacking techniques and exploits used by skilled hackers, our external penetration test includes a comprehensive security assessment that goes beyond simple automated vulnerability scans. The goal is to gain access to target systems under controlled conditions to evaluate the effectiveness of existing external network’s security posture
Our qualified penetration tester evaluate your security using industry-leading standards. We give you practical advice on how to strengthen your security measures, along with a step-by-step plan to fix any vulnerabilities we find. We don’t just identify security holes; we help you solve them. Plus, our external penetration tests meet key industry standards like PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, and SOC2. This means you’ll have all the documentation you need to meet these important compliance requirements.
Need pricing for an upcoming external pentest project?
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See our external penetration testing services in action and discover how they can help secure your public-facing network perimeter from modern cyber threats and exploits.
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See our internal penetration testing services in action and discover how they can help secure your internal network infrastructure from modern cyber threats and unauthorized access.
Download the 2025 edition of our penetration testing buyer's guide
Learn everything you need to know about penetration testing to conduct successful pentesting projects and make informed decisions in your upcoming cybersecurity assessments.
Why should you perform external penetration testing?
- Evolving cyber attacks Traditional security approaches often inadequately identify emerging vulnerabilities, leaving complex network infrastructures susceptible to modern cyber attacks.
- Risk of exposed vulnerabilities The rising prevalence of public-facing devices and applications not only expands the attack surface but also complicates the effective management of vulnerabilities, particularly in the safeguarding of sensitive information.
- Increasing cybersecurity requirements Compliance standards are increasing across all industries and frequently include external penetration test as a requirement.
- Limitations in traditional security solutions Conventional security tools, like firewalls and antivirus software are generally ineffective, lacking comprehensive coverage against a broader range of vulnerabilities.
How will external pentesting help secure my external network?
- Gain insight into current risks
Conduct an in-depth external penetration test that transcends basic automated scanning tools to offer a comprehensive security assessment of your external network. - Simulate real-world external threats
Replicate hacking techniques and exploits, such as unauthorized access and software exploitation, to pinpoint your most vulnerable assets. - Benchmark against industry standards
Measure your external security posture against globally recognized security frameworks to gauge how well you’re doing in the larger landscape. - Adopt the latest best practices
Deploy robust security mechanisms to fortify your target systems against a spectrum of threats, both conventional and emergent, thereby minimizing the attack surface.
What will be assessed during an external penetration test?
An external penetration test identifies vulnerabilities in your Internet-facing IT systems and external network perimeter systems, including:
- Security perimeter
Firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, network devices and configurations. - Web infrastructure
Web servers, web applications, frameworks, plugins, associated vulnerabilities. - Email systems
Mail servers, mail protocols, antispam/antivirus controls, email authentication mechanisms (DKIM, DMARC, SPF), etc. - Remote access
Remote access services, protocols and applications like RDP, SSH, Citrix, Terminal Services, associated access controls. - Domain evaluation
DNS servers, records, domain registration details, DNSSEC, IPv6 implementations. - And more
Including Dark Web leaks, SSL/TLS configurations, third-party integrations, default credentials checks, etc..
External penetration testing key benefits
An external pen test is a critical component of a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management strategy. Here are the key benefits:
Improved Security Posture
Implement advanced security controls to dramatically enhance your external network's security posture and protect sensitive information.
Compliance Achievement
Efficiently fulfill regulatory requirements, including but not limited to Insurance, SOC 2, PCI, and ISO 27001 standards.
Prioritized Roadmap
Prioritize your vulnerability remediation efforts in your target system where you are most at risk of facing a breach.
Cyber Risk Mitigation
Limit your vulnerability to contemporary cyber attacks like data breaches and unauthorized system access.
Actionable Insights
Receive a detailed report with actionable recommendations that help improve your network security significantly.
Visibility into Risk Landscape
Gain in-depth awareness of your external risk profile, providing crucial intelligence for managerial decision-making in cybersecurity.
Receive clear and actionable results
Our penetration reports deliver more than a simple export from a security tool. Each vulnerability is exploited, measured and documented by an experienced specialist to ensure you fully understand its business impact.
Each element of the report provides concise and relevant information that contributes significantly towards improving your security posture and meeting compliance requirements.
Executive summary
High level overview of your security posture, recommendations and risk management implications in a clear non-technical language.
Suited for non-technical stakeholders.
Vulnerabilities & recommendations
Vulnerabilities prioritized by risk level, including technical evidence (screenshots,
requests, etc.) and recommendations to fix each vulnerability.
Suited for your technical team.
Attestation
This document will allow you to meet compliance and regulatory reporting requirements efficiently and with minimal overhead.
Suited for third-parties (clients, auditors, etc).
Protecting against the latest cyber threats
Our experts hold the most recognized certifications to proactively protect our clients against modern attack techniques & exploits used to breach their cybersecurity.
Frequently asked questions
Didn’t find the answer to your questions?
How often should external pen test be performed?
According to industry best practices, external pen testing should be performed at least annually to keep pace with evolving cyber threats. In addition, external pentesting is especially critical in certain scenarios, such as Before launching new systems on the public Internet, after significant network changes, before compliance audits, after security incidents, and before major business events such as M&A transactions. This approach ensures that your organization is consistently fortified against the latest hacking techniques and vulnerabilities.
Will this test allow us to meet compliance requirements?
Every year, our external penetration testing helps a wide range of organizations meet their compliance requirements.
By identifying vulnerabilities that require attention and providing recommendations to address them, organizations can easily demonstrate their improved security posture to third-parties.
After corrective measures have been deployed, we go one step further by conducting remediation testing to validate the fixes. This allows us provide an official attestation that the identified vulnerabilities have been successfully remediated. This end-to-end service enables organizations to efficiently meet and maintain compliance standards such as SOC2, ISO27001, PCI-DSS, etc.
What is the cost of an external penetration test?
The cost of a penetration test can vary significantly depending on the scope of the assessment.For external penetration testing, one of the most significant factors in the price is the number of IP addresses that need to be evaluated.
Learn more about the main factors that determine the cost of a penetration test →
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Which pentesting methodologies do you follow?
Our certified penetration testers use globally recognized frameworks, such as the MITRE ATT&CK and OSSTMM testing methodologies, to provide an accurate snapshot of your current external cybersecurity risks that could escalate into an incident.Using a blend of manual and automated techniques, we not only identify vulnerabilities, we contextualize them.This helps our clients effectively allocate their IT and network security resources to protect sensitive data.
What is the difference between external and internal testing?
Internal pentesting is conducted from within the organization’s network by a tester who has access to the internal network. External pentesting is conducted from outside the organization’s network and simulates an attack on public-facing systems. The primary difference is the point of origin of the test, with internal testing being more focused on internal network security measures while external testing focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in systems that are accessible from the internet.
Why Vumetric is a top penetration testing provider
Vumetric is an ISO9001-certified provider entirely dedicated to penetration testing with more than 15 years of experience in the industry.
With extensive hands-on experience in the field, our team of experts delivers cybersecurity projects across a wide range of digital ecosystems, providing actionable insights and acting as trusted advisors to our clients.
- Top industry certifications (CISSP, OSCP, CRTO, GWAPT, etc.)
- Fast response time & quick turnover with our in-house team of experts
- Proven testing methodologies (OWASP, MITRE, OSSTMM, etc.)
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