External Network Penetration Testing

What Is External Network Penetration Testing?

External penetration testing targets your publicly accessible infrastructure such as web servers, VPN gateways, mail servers, and cloud assets. The goal is to uncover how attackers could gain an initial foothold from outside your network.

• DNS and subdomain enumeration
• Port scanning and service fingerprinting
• Vulnerability identification and validation
• Exploitation of weak authentication or service misconfigurations

What Do We Test?

• Unpatched services and exposed ports
• Remote desktop or VPN access points
• Weak SSL/TLS and insecure cipher usage
• Information leakage via banners or error messages
• Brute-force protection on login portals
• Known exploits on internet facing systems

Why It’s Critical

External network services are constantly probed by automated bots and targeted attackers. Just one exposed port or forgotten subdomain can become an entry point.

• Reduce the risk of ransomware and malware entry
• Meet security requirements for ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI
• Gain visibility into forgotten or legacy infrastructure
• Validate firewall and access control rules

Our Testing Approach

We simulate real-world attackers targeting your internet facing systems. Starting with reconnaissance, we map your external footprint identifying exposed services, subdomains, and cloud assets.

We then probe for misconfigurations, outdated software, weak authentication, and exploitable vulnerabilities. The goal is simple: find the gaps before someone else does.

Real World Examples

A port scan identified an internet-facing RDP service. The was protected with a username and password combination. This exposed the system to immediate compromise and lateral movement within the environment.

Engagement Process

1. Scoping & Quotation: Drop us an email, and we’ll either arrange a scoping call or send over our scoping forms. Based on the information you provide, we’ll prepare a quote for the work. Once everything is agreed upon, we’ll send through the necessary paperwork and agreements, and then schedule the assessment.
2. Assessment Phase: On the scheduled day, our team begins testing. If we detect any critical or high risk vulnerabilities during the assessment, we alert you immediately to help you respond quickly.
3. Results & Reporting: You’ll receive a professionally written report detailing each vulnerability, its business impact, technical detail, and precise guidance for remediation.
4. Free Retesting: Once you’ve resolved the major findings, we offer complimentary retesting for high and critical issues—so you can close the loop with confidence.