Advanced Penetration Testing Services in Canberra

Indicative pricing: web application testing from $3,500, external network testing from $5,000, cloud assessments from $4,500, and red team engagements from $25,000. All engagements are fixed-price and scoped before any work begins — no surprise invoices. Contact us for a tailored quote within 24 hours.

Timeline by type: Web app testing: 3–5 business days. External network: 5–10 days. Internal network: 5–8 days. Cloud assessment: 4–7 days. API testing: 3–6 days. Red team: 2–4 weeks. These are testing durations only — add 2–3 days for report production and 48 hours for debrief scheduling. Testing windows can often be run outside business hours to minimise disruption.

Black-box: Testers start with zero knowledge — simulating a real external attacker. Most realistic, but may miss internal vulnerabilities. Grey-box: Limited access provided (e.g. a user account) — simulates a malicious insider or compromised user. Best value for most organisations. White-box: Full access to source code, architecture, and credentials — maximum coverage, highest cost. Required for PCI DSS Level 1 and high-assurance environments. Unsure which? We'll recommend the right approach for your risk profile in a free scoping call.

Most organisations test at least annually. Additional testing is recommended after: major system deployments, significant infrastructure changes, after a security incident, after mergers or acquisitions, or when new regulatory requirements apply. PCI DSS requires annual testing and after significant changes. ISO 27001 requires regular testing as part of the ISMS. Organisations handling sensitive government data should test more frequently — often quarterly.

It depends on the test type. For black-box external testing we only need the target IP ranges or domains — no credentials. For grey-box testing we need test user accounts with the appropriate permission level. For white-box testing we need architecture documentation, source code access, and administrator credentials. We never require production admin access — testing can be performed against staging environments when required. All access is governed by the Rules of Engagement document signed before testing begins.

PCI DSS: Requirement 11.3 mandates annual external and internal pen testing and after significant changes. ISO 27001: Pen testing is a key control in the ISMS — evidence required for certification. SOC 2 Type II: Auditors expect pen testing evidence aligned to CC6/CC7 criteria. Essential Eight ML2+: Testing evidence required. APRA CPS 234: Required for Australian financial institutions. Our reports include framework-specific sections to satisfy each of these simultaneously. Ask us about your specific framework →

Every report includes: executive summary (business-language overview), technical findings with full proof of concept, CVSS v3.1 severity ratings (Critical/High/Medium/Low/Informational), business impact analysis, prioritised step-by-step remediation guidance, and compliance framework mapping (ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2, NIST, ISM). Reports are structured so both your CISO and your board can read relevant sections without needing to interpret technical jargon.

We design testing windows to minimise disruption — most organisations schedule testing during off-peak hours or weekends for production systems. We never conduct destructive testing without explicit written approval. For highly sensitive systems we can test against a staging/UAT environment. Our Rules of Engagement document defines exactly what we will and won't do before testing begins, so there are no surprises. We have never caused an unplanned outage on any engagement.

Three verifiable differences: (1) CREST-certified with NV1/NV2 government clearances — fewer than 5% of Australian pen test firms have both. (2) Free re-testing included — most competitors charge $1,500–$5,000 separately for this. (3) 25+ years with ASX 50 clients (ANZ Bank, CPA Australia, Origin Energy, Australia Post) — that enterprise rigour applies to every engagement regardless of your size. We also never outsource or offshore — every tester is Australian-based and security-cleared.

Yes — and significantly. Cyber insurers increasingly require evidence of penetration testing as a condition of coverage, and organisations with recent clean pen test reports typically receive 15–30% lower premiums. Our reports are structured to satisfy cyber insurance underwriter requirements, and we can provide a letter confirming engagement scope and findings for your insurer on request. The test often pays for itself through reduced premiums in year one alone.