External Penetration Testing

We test your internet-facing systems the way an attacker would see them—from the outside.

What is External Penetration Testing?

External penetration testing is a security assessment that evaluates your organization's defenses from outside your network. Our testers simulate real-world attacks against your internet-facing systems, just as an attacker would approach your organization. This helps identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before malicious actors do.

What External Penetration Testing Covers

Our external penetration testing service evaluates all systems and services accessible from the internet, including:

• Web applications and websites - Identify OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, SQL injection, XSS, authentication flaws
• Email servers and mail gateways - Test for spoofing, credential theft, and email-based attacks
• VPNs and remote access solutions - Assess VPN appliances, Citrix, RDP, and remote desktop services
• DNS infrastructure - Evaluate zone transfers, DNS spoofing, and subdomain enumeration
• Cloud services - Test AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other cloud infrastructure misconfigurations
• Open ports and services - Discover exposed services and test for default credentials
• SSL/TLS certificates - Verify certificate validity and encryption strength
• Third-party integrations - Assess security of integrated third-party services

Our External Penetration Testing Methodology

We follow a structured, systematic approach to external penetration testing:

• Reconnaissance and Enumeration - Gather information about your organization's internet-facing assets, just as an attacker would
• Vulnerability Scanning - Identify potential vulnerabilities using industry-standard tools and manual techniques
• Manual Exploitation - Verify vulnerabilities and demonstrate business impact through controlled exploitation
• Lateral Movement Assessment - Test what an attacker could access if they breach your external defenses
• Data Exfiltration Testing - Verify whether sensitive data could be stolen from discovered vulnerabilities
• Remediation Verification - Confirm that previous security improvements are effective

Every finding is verified manually; we don't just run automated scans and call it done. This approach ensures accuracy and reduces false positives.

External Penetration Testing Deliverables

Upon completion of your external penetration test, you'll receive:

• Detailed findings report with technical descriptions, screenshots, and proof of concept
• Risk-rated vulnerabilities (Critical, High, Medium, Low, Informational)
• Step-by-step reproduction steps for each vulnerability
• Specific, actionable remediation recommendations for each finding
• Executive summary for leadership and board members
• Live debrief call to walk through results and answer questions
• CVSS scores for each vulnerability
• Timeline estimates for remediation

Why Choose External Penetration Testing?

External penetration testing provides several critical benefits for Texas businesses:

• Identify real-world risks - Understand vulnerabilities that attackers can actually exploit from the internet
• Reduce breach likelihood - Fix vulnerabilities before cybercriminals discover them
• Meet compliance requirements - Many regulations (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, NIST) require regular penetration testing
• Insurance requirements - Cyber liability insurance often requires annual penetration tests
• Demonstrate due diligence - Show stakeholders and customers that security is taken seriously
• Budget prioritization - Understand where to invest limited security resources

Typical External Penetration Testing Timeline

The timeline for external penetration testing varies based on scope and complexity:

• Small scope (1-3 systems) - 1 week
• Medium scope (4-10 systems) - 1-2 weeks
• Large scope (10+ systems, cloud infrastructure) - 2-4 weeks
• Report preparation and debrief - 1 week after testing completion

We'll provide a detailed timeline estimate before testing begins, based on your specific scope and systems.

What You'll Need to Provide

To ensure a successful external penetration test, please provide:

• Scope definition - List of IP addresses, domains, and systems in-scope for testing
• Out-of-scope systems - Systems that should NOT be tested (production databases, third-party systems, etc.)
• Contact information - Primary contact for questions during testing
• Testing windows - Preferred dates and times for testing
• Any existing documentation - Previous pentests, known issues, remediation status
• Firewall/IDS alerts - Whether we should expect security alerts during testing

External Penetration Testing Pricing

External penetration testing costs depend on scope, complexity, and timeline. We offer flexible engagement options:

• Small businesses (1-5 systems) - Starting at $2,500
• Medium businesses (5-15 systems) - Starting at $5,750
• Large enterprises (15+ systems) - Custom pricing

All pricing includes the complete assessment, detailed report, and live debrief call. We'll provide a firm quote before any work begins.

When You Need External Penetration Testing

Consider scheduling external penetration testing if:

• You haven't had a security assessment in the past 12 months
• You're preparing for a major acquisition or partnership
• You've recently made significant infrastructure changes
• You're implementing new web applications or services
• You need to meet compliance requirements (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2)
• Your cyber liability insurance requires annual testing
• You've experienced a security incident or breach