Frequently Asked Questions

Penetration testing is a hands-on security assessment where our experts simulate real-world attacks against your systems. Unlike vulnerability scanners that just flag potential issues, we actively attempt to exploit weaknesses the way an actual attacker would. This shows you not just what could go wrong, but what an adversary could actually accomplish in your environment.

We've been the audience. Our team has sat in the CISO chair, managed security operations, and received plenty of pentest reports over the years. We know what it's like to get a 200-page PDF full of scanner output with no clear path forward. That experience shapes everything we deliver—reports structured for how security teams actually work, findings mapped to CIS Top 18 by default (or whichever framework your compliance program requires), and support that doesn't end when the report lands.

We serve clients nationwide. Our remote assessment platform enables us to perform most testing remotely with the same quality we deliver locally. We built our practice in the Delaware Valley—healthcare systems, financial institutions, law firms that can't afford security gaps—and that rigor travels with us to every engagement. For on-site work like physical security testing, we travel.

We work with organizations of all sizes. Many of our clients are small to mid-sized businesses who need real security expertise without a massive vendor overhead. We scope engagements based on your actual risks and objectives, not a one-size-fits-all checklist. If something isn't relevant to your environment, we won't test it just to pad a report.

A vulnerability assessment uses automated tools to identify potential weaknesses—it's efficient for coverage but produces a lot of noise. Penetration testing goes further: we actually attempt to exploit vulnerabilities to determine what's truly exploitable in your specific environment. We find business logic flaws, chained attack paths, and risks that scanners miss entirely. Most organizations need both, used appropriately.

Our security testing services include external and internal network penetration testing, web and mobile application testing, API security assessments, wireless security testing, physical security testing, and social engineering. We also offer red team engagements for organizations ready to test their detection and response capabilities, and purple team exercises for collaborative security improvement.

Beyond testing, we offer Virtual CISO services for ongoing security leadership, gap assessments against frameworks like NIST CSF and CIS Top 18, and tabletop exercises to stress-test your incident response. Our advisory work is informed by the same hands-on experience that drives our testing—we've built and operated security programs, not just assessed them.

Yes. Every finding in our reports maps to CIS Top 18 controls and NIST 800-53, making it straightforward to demonstrate remediation progress to auditors. We support organizations working toward HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, and other frameworks through testing and gap assessments tailored to your specific compliance objectives.

A tabletop exercise walks your team through a simulated security incident—ransomware, data breach, business email compromise—in a low-pressure discussion format. The goal is to identify gaps in your response procedures, improve coordination across teams, and build the muscle memory that pays off when a real incident happens. We facilitate scenarios based on realistic threats to your industry.

It depends on scope. A focused external penetration test might take 1-2 weeks of active testing. A comprehensive assessment with multiple testing types could span 4-6 weeks. We'll provide a clear timeline during scoping, and most clients receive their final report within 1-2 weeks of testing completion.

We design our testing to avoid operational impact. Most testing runs during business hours with constant communication. For critical systems, we can work within maintenance windows. If we cause any issues—unusual but possible during active testing—we pause immediately and coordinate with your team before continuing.

You get a report built for how security teams actually work: an executive summary leadership can understand, technical findings engineers can act on, and framework mappings auditors need. Every finding includes specific CIS Top 18 and NIST 800-53 control references, visual evidence, and actionable remediation steps—not generic "patch your systems" advice. We also document what's working well, because your team deserves credit for strong controls.

We don't disappear after the report lands. Every engagement includes a findings walkthrough with your team. We answer questions, help prioritize remediation, and make sure you understand every finding. Six months later, still have questions? Call us. We don't charge extra for clarification—our goal is for your team to fully understand the risks.

We follow strict data handling protocols throughout every engagement. All findings are encrypted and stored securely. We capture only the minimum evidence needed to document vulnerabilities. At engagement completion, we securely delete all data according to our retention policy or your requirements.

Pricing depends on scope, complexity, and duration. We provide transparent, fixed-fee quotes after understanding your environment and objectives—no surprise charges. Most engagements range from a few thousand dollars for focused testing to tens of thousands for comprehensive assessments. Contact us for a custom quote based on your specific needs.

Start with a free consultation. We'll discuss your security goals, understand your environment, and put together a proposal with clear scope, timeline, and pricing. Once you're ready, we kick off with an alignment meeting to nail down logistics and make sure everyone knows what to expect.

No. We offer both project-based engagements and ongoing retainers. Many clients start with a single assessment and return for annual testing or Virtual CISO services as their needs evolve. We're not interested in locking you into commitments that don't make sense for your organization.

Yes. We work with you to find testing windows that fit your constraints—busy seasons, change freezes, compliance deadlines. The goal is effective testing that doesn't create unnecessary operational stress.

Yes. Our partner program is designed for MSPs, IT consultants, and other service providers who want to offer security services to their clients. Partners receive competitive pricing, white-label options, and co-marketing support. Visit our Partners page to learn more about the program.