So, what is an external penetration test? An external penetration testing service is designed to mimic how an attacker might attempt to access an organisation from outside the network.  

External infrastructure penetration testing involves identifying any vulnerabilities in external environments and attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access. 

The external penetration tester would take steps to bypass perimeter security measures and gain access to internet-facing systems. Identifying how gaps in company networks could result in a security breach allows the business to make the necessary changes before an attack can cause damage to the business.  

Comprehensive reporting from the pen tester will precisely outline the network’s vulnerabilities and the impact they could have on the business if left unaddressed.  

What is an internal penetration test and what is the difference between internal and external penetration testing? 

An internal security breach could prove disastrous for your business in terms of reputation and cost. Internal pen testing provides a unique insight into internal networks, helping to pinpoint vulnerabilities, shore up security, and guard against threats from within the organisation itself.  

Learn more about other types of penetration testing.  

Penetration testing will identify the weaknesses and potential vulnerabilities in your security systems, giving you the chance to remedy them before it’s too late. 

What are the benefits of external penetration testing? 

Penetration testing in general has many benefits. When looking at external penetration testing specifically there are a few key things that a company can gain from engaging with external penetration testing services: 

• Understand any gaps or security vulnerabilities that a cybercriminal may exploit to access external network infrastructure or systems 
• Understand what the impact of an external network or system breach would be on the business 
• Regulatory compliance, depending on the business industry and needs 
• Win more business by fulfilling contractual obligations and proving a proactive approach to securing the business 
• Protect the company’s reputation and retain customer trust 

If a hacker was able to exploit your external network infrastructure and exfiltrate your sensitive data, the result would be extremely damaging for both the business reputation and the resulting cost in lost business operations and fines. External networks are a crucial part of any business.  

External penetration testing is important to be able to answer external penetration testing checklist questions that link directly to the security of external network infrastructure.  

An external penetration test will answer questions such as: 

• Are all internet-facing systems identified and accounted for? 
• Has an attack already occurred? 
• Are all systems configured correctly? 
• Is patching fully up to date for all systems identified? 
• And many more 

With continued sophistication of real-world attacks by cybercriminals, external penetration testing needs to be regular and rigorous in order to protect networks and stop attacks before they can happen.  

All external penetration tests are tailored to the organisation. The time that an external pen test should take depends on the infrastructure involved in the test’s scope.  

Scope your project to get a tailored quote of what your external penetration testing service would involve.  

DigitalXRAID’s comprehensive external penetration testing services use ethical hacking techniques to target systems and attempt to gain physical access. This type of external penetration testing allows us to test the security risks associated to your networks, systems, and web applications, diagnosing the flaws in your security before they can be exploited.  

Unlike other external penetration testing companies, DigitalXRAID is both CREST and CHECK accredited. DigitalXRAID is one of the first companies in the world to gain the gold standard CREST certification, making us one of the top penetration testing companies in the UK. If there’s a vulnerability, DigitalXRAID’s CREST certified penetration testing service experts will find it. All certifications are reviewed and approved by GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) and the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) for added assurance. 

For more information on our external penetration testing services or how we can support you in staying a step ahead of cyber criminals with a range of CREST penetration testing services, get in contact. 

For an in-depth view and to get tailored quote, scope your project.