Every change to your technology stack changes your attack surface. A new platform, a cloud migration or a vendor integration can open gaps that nobody designed in and nobody has looked for yet. Penetration testing is how you find them before someone else does.
This article covers what a penetration test is, the points where most organisations need one, what can be tested, and how to get findings you can actually act on.
A penetration test is a controlled, authorised attack on your systems by security specialists. Testers use the same techniques as real attackers to find weaknesses, prove whether they can be exploited, and show what an attacker could reach if they did.
It is different from a vulnerability scan. A scan lists known weaknesses automatically. A penetration test adds human judgement: chaining issues together, testing business logic, and confirming which findings carry real risk. The result is a point-in-time view of your exposure, ranked by severity, so you know what to fix first.
Most requests we see come from one of two places.
Security teams meeting policy and compliance obligations. Many security policies, frameworks and customer contracts require testing at least annually. Renewal deadlines tend to land at the same time across the market, so tester availability gets tight. Booking recurring testing ahead of time means you meet the deadline without scrambling, and each year's results can be compared with the last.
Project teams validating change. Replatforming, digital transformation and cloud migrations are where new vulnerabilities most often appear. Testing before go-live, or soon after, confirms the new platform holds up against real attack techniques. It also gives project sponsors and risk owners evidence that security was checked, not assumed.
Other common triggers include a new customer-facing application, a merger or acquisition, onboarding a critical supplier, or a security incident that raises questions about what else might be exposed.
We cover the full range of penetration testing and vulnerability assessment across your environment:
Internal and external networks
Web applications and APIs
Mobile applications
Cloud environments
Wireless networks
IoT devices
SCADA and operational technology (OT)
PCI DSS scope
Testing can be black box (no prior knowledge, like an outside attacker), white box (full access to architecture and code) or grey box (partial knowledge, like a compromised user or insider). The right choice depends on what you are trying to prove and how much time you have.
Our methodology draws on recognised standards including OSSTMM, ISSAF, OWASP Top 10, OWASP ASVS, WASC, CWE and the SANS Top 25, along with EC-Council CEH testing guidelines. We use leading toolsets such as Core Impact, Cobalt Strike and Nexpose, alongside Dynatrace and Endace where deeper visibility helps.
The report is where a test earns its value. Ours include:
Every vulnerability found, ranked by severity
Technical, procedural and strategic remediation recommendations
An executive summary in plain business language for non-technical leaders
An in-person walkthrough of the findings and remediation options
We can also combine pen test results with other assessments, such as a threat and risk assessment, to give you a quantified view of cyber risk in dollar terms.
For teams building software, testing works best alongside secure development practice: SDLC maturity reviews, secure development standards, secure code reviews, automated static and dynamic testing, and threat modelling. Our DevSecOps team can help build these into your delivery pipeline so fewer issues reach the test in the first place.
A well-run penetration test helps you:
Avocado is Australian owned and operated since 2004. Our testers bring decades of experience, and many hold senior roles on international advisory boards for their certifications. We have staff with each capability, certification and clearance needed to deliver across the environments above, so we can respond quickly when policy deadlines are close. We also offer high-volume, fixed-price testing for organisations with large or recurring testing programs.
See how we have helped other organisations:
Whether you have a compliance deadline coming up or a platform change to validate, get in touch to scope a test. Not sure where to start? Our online Cyber Maturity Self-Assessment gives you a maturity rating in under five minutes.