PENETRATION TESTING +
WHAT COULD AN ATTACKER ACTUALLY DO?
An authorised, focused security test of defined systems that safely explores realistic attack paths, demonstrates meaningful risk where appropriate and gives you clear evidence of what should happen next.
Finding a vulnerability is one thing. A penetration test asks what an attacker could actually achieve with it.
WHY IT MATTERS +
FINDING A WEAKNESS IS ONLY THE BEGINING
A Vulnerability Assessment identifies weaknesses. A Penetration Test goes further by safely exploring whether those weaknesses can be used to achieve meaningful compromise.
We work within an agreed scope and testing objective, following realistic attack paths only as far as necessary to establish credible impact.
+Â EXPLOIT
Can the weakness actually be used?
+Â IMPACT
What could an attacker achieve?
+Â PATH
Could one weakness lead somewhere else?
+Â PRIORITY
What should be fixed first?
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? +
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
WHAT CAN WE REACH?
We look at your external attack surface and identify what an attacker can see, access, and potentially target.
WHAT CAN WE GET AROUND?
We test authentication, access controls and security mechanisms to see whether they can be bypassed or abused.
WHAT CAN WE ACCESS?
If we get through one door, what does it give us access to? We look at permissions, sensitive data and exposed systems.
HOW FAR CAN WE GO?
Not every finding deserves the same urgency. We help distinguish between something that needs attention now and something that can wait.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CAUSE MAXIMUM DAMAGE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE RISK.
HOW IT WORKS +
FROM AUTHORISATION TO EVIDENCE.
A penetration test should never be a black box. Before testing begins, we agree what may be tested, what we’re trying to learn, how testing will be performed and where the boundaries are.
01 SCOPE
Define exactly where we’re authorised to test.
02 OBJECTIVE
Define the security question we’re trying to answer.
03 RECONNOITRE
Map the agreed systems and identify realistic attack paths.
04 TEST
Check suspected weaknesses within the agreed scope and boundaries.
05 EXPLOIT
Safely validate whether weaknesses can achieve the agreed objective.
06 DEMONSTRATE
Gather enough evidence to establish credible impact.
07 EXPLAIN
Turn the evidence into clear findings and remediation priorities.
08 RETEST
Verify whether the original findings were successfully addressed.
Scope tells us where we may test. The objective tells us what we’re trying to learn.
HOW IT WORKS +
MORE THAN A LIST OF VULNERABILITIES
Finding weaknesses is useful. Understanding what they mean is better.
Your report separates what was demonstrated, what was validated, what represents a potential attack path, and where evidence remains limited.
A report shouldn’t leave you with more questions than you started with.
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HOW FAR WE GO +
ENOUGH EVIDENCE. NOT MAXIMUM DAMAGE.
Penetration testing involves deliberately interacting with weaknesses, but exploitation isn’t a competition to see how far we can push into your environment.
Tanosec exploits only as far as necessary to establish credible impact. Once sufficient evidence exists to answer the security question, further exploitation requires a reason, not curiosity.
Demonstrate access. Minimise collection. Protect evidence. Stop when the point is proven.
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The objective is sufficient evidence, not maximum damage.
DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED A PENETRATION TEST?
A penetration test can provide valuable evidence, but it isn’t automatically the right starting point.
If you already know which systems need testing and what you need to learn, we’ll help define the appropriate scope.
If you’re still trying to understand your wider security position, a Cybersecurity Assessment or Vulnerability Assessment may be the better first step.
A Pen Test makes sense when:Â
+Â Test your controls
+Â Major changes
+Â New application
+Â External requirement
+Â Validate vulnerabilities
Start somewhere else when:Â
+Â Unknown attack surface
+Â No baseline assessment
+Â Don’t know what’s exposed
+Â Need broad visibility
Not sure which one applies to you? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
TECHNICAL ENOUGH TO FIND THE PROBLEM. HUMAN ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN IT
Security testing can get complicated very quickly. Your explanation shouldn’t. We do the technical work properly, but we don’t expect you to speak our language before we’ll speak yours. We’ll tell you what we found, explain why it matters, and help you understand what to do next. No unnecessary jargon. No fear-mongering. No making you feel stupid for asking questions.
+ CURIOUS
We ask what happens next.
+ HONEST
We’ll tell you what matters.
+ CLEAR
You should understand your security.
Leave people better than we found them.
READY TO TEST IT? +
FIND OUT WHAT AN ATTACKER COULD ACTUALLY DO.
Launching an application or changing critical systems? Allow time to test and address important findings before the change goes live. Tell us what needs testing and your planned date. We’ll help define the scope, testing objective and appropriate next step.