// Penetration Testing UK

PASS THE AUDIT.
WIN THE CONTRACT.

Enterprise customers and government frameworks require a signed pen test report before contracts progress. We deliver audit-ready assessments that satisfy SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and DCC supply chain requirements -with a free 30-day retest included as standard. From £1,499 + VAT.

Discuss Your Requirements →See Pricing →
AUDIT-READY REPORTFREE 30-DAY RETESTFIXED-PRICE SCOPINGNO SCOPE CREEP
// Compliance Mandates

WHICH FRAMEWORKS REQUIRE IT?

Beyond commercial triggers, these frameworks explicitly mandate or strongly expect regular penetration testing as part of your compliance evidence.

PCI DSS

Requirement 11.4 mandates annual internal and external penetration testing of cardholder data environments. Requirement 11.4.3 and 11.4.4 require segmentation testing and targeted testing after significant changes.

ISO 27001

Annex A control 8.8 requires management of technical vulnerabilities. ISO 27001 auditors expect evidence of regular penetration testing as part of your information security management system.

NHS DSPT

The NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit requires organisations handling NHS patient data to evidence regular penetration testing as part of their mandatory annual submission.

SOC 2 TYPE II

SOC 2 auditors expect penetration testing evidence to support the Security and Availability trust service criteria. Annual testing is standard practice for organisations seeking Type II reports.

UK GDPR - ARTICLE 32

Article 32 requires organisations to implement "a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures." Pen testing directly satisfies this obligation.

ENTERPRISE SUPPLY CHAIN

Most FTSE 250 and enterprise procurement processes now require suppliers to evidence annual penetration testing. A current pen test report is increasingly a condition of contract award and renewal.

// What We Test

TYPES OF TESTING WE PROVIDE

INFRASTRUCTURE TESTING

External and internal network penetration testing covering perimeter defences, lateral movement risks, network segmentation validation, and wireless (802.11) security assessments.

WEB & API TESTING

Assessment of web applications and APIs against the OWASP Top 10 - including REST and GraphQL endpoints for logic flaws, authorisation bypasses, and data leakage.

CLOUD SECURITY REVIEW

Security posture assessments of Azure, AWS, and M365 tenants against industry benchmarks and best practices to identify and prevent misconfiguration-led breaches.

MDM REVIEW

Comprehensive reviews of Mobile Device Management platforms, including Android and iOS configuration reviews assessed against industry benchmarks.

PCI DSS PEN TESTING

Specialist testing aligned to PCI DSS Requirement 11.4, bridging the gap between technical findings and regulatory pass/fail criteria for cardholder data environments.

BUILD REVIEWS

Deep-dive reviews of Windows Server, Desktop (Gold Image), and network appliances - including desktop breakout testing to identify and close restricted environment bypasses.

// Expert-Led Testing

REAL TESTERS. REAL FINDINGS.

Every engagement is led by a senior UK-based security professional - not automated tools alone. Testing is manual and expert-led, covering the attack paths that scanners miss.

We work across infrastructure, web applications, cloud environments, mobile device management, and build configurations - adapting our approach to your specific environment and risk profile.

All findings are reported with CVSS-scored severity, clear evidence, and prioritised remediation guidance. Every engagement includes a free 30-day retest window and two hours of direct engineer time to walk your IT team or developer through the fixes. Once remediated, we recheck and issue a clean retest attestation at no additional cost.

UK penetration testing - expert-led security assessments of networks, web applications, and cloud environments by Vincent Cyber Defence
// Our Methodology

HOW WE TEST

Our penetration testing follows industry-standard methodologies including OWASP and PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard), adapted to your specific environment and risk profile.

We take a thorough, manual approach - automated scanning alone misses business-logic vulnerabilities and nuanced attack paths that only experienced testers find.

Every report includes a plain-English executive summary alongside the technical detail, so your IT team and your board both understand exactly what was found and what to do about it.

What You Get

  • Detailed technical report with all findings
  • Executive summary for non-technical stakeholders
  • Risk ratings using CVSS industry-standard scoring
  • Clear, prioritised remediation guidance
  • Evidence and proof-of-concept for each finding
  • Free 30-day retest window included as standard
  • 2 hours of engineer walkthrough for your IT team or developer

  • RECONNAISSANCE

    Passive and active intelligence gathering about your attack surface.

  • ENUMERATION

    Mapping services, systems and potential entry points in scope.

  • EXPLOITATION

    Controlled, safe exploitation of identified vulnerabilities to confirm impact.

  • POST-EXPLOITATION

    Assessing the impact of a successful breach - data access, lateral movement.

  • REPORTING

    Clear, prioritised report with technical detail and executive summary.

  • RETEST

    Free 30-day retest included as standard - once remediated, we recheck and issue a clean retest attestation.

// Your Engagement

YOUR PEN TEST JOURNEY

1

SCOPE

We agree targets, test type, rules of engagement, and timing. Fixed-price confirmed before work begins.

2

TEST

Manual, expert-led testing of your environment. We work carefully within agreed boundaries to minimise disruption.

3

REPORT

Detailed findings with CVSS severity scores, proof-of-concept evidence, and prioritised remediation guidance.

4

FREE RETEST

Your free 30-day retest window is included. Once remediated, we recheck and issue a clean retest attestation -no additional cost.

// Guide Pricing

PENETRATION TESTING PRICING

All engagements are scoped and fixed-price before work begins. A free 30-day retest window is included in every engagement. Guide prices below -final price depends on number of targets and environment complexity.

Test TypeScopeGuide Price + VAT
NetworkExternal & internalFrom £1,499
Web ApplicationSingle applicationFrom £1,999
Cloud ReviewAzure · AWS · M365From £1,999
MDM ReviewAndroid & iOSFrom £1,499
PCI DSS TestingReq. 11.4 alignedFrom £1,499
Build ReviewsWindows · Server · NetworkFrom £1,499
Discuss Your Requirements →

Priced on scope - fixed quote provided after a brief scoping call. See our UK pen test pricing guide →

// FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

// Compliance
Several major frameworks mandate penetration testing explicitly or require evidence of regular technical security testing: PCI DSS (Requirement 11.4 - annual internal and external testing of cardholder data environments); ISO 27001 (Annex A 8.8 - technical vulnerability management, with pen testing expected by auditors); NHS DSPT (annual pen test evidence required for organisations handling NHS patient data); SOC 2 Type II (penetration testing evidence supports Security and Availability trust criteria); UK GDPR Article 32 (regular testing of technical measures is a legal obligation); and most enterprise and FTSE supply chain contracts now require a current pen test report as a condition of engagement.
Yes. PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 mandates annual internal and external penetration testing of systems within your cardholder data environment (CDE). Requirement 11.4.4 also requires penetration testing after any significant infrastructure or application changes. Our PCI DSS-aligned testing is specifically scoped to meet these requirements and produces a report formatted for your QSA.
Yes. Article 32 of UK GDPR requires organisations to implement "a process for regularly testing, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of technical and organisational measures for ensuring the security of the processing." Penetration testing is the most direct and evidenced way to satisfy this obligation. Our reports provide documentation suitable for demonstrating compliance to your DPO, ICO, or auditors.
Yes. We work with organisations in the MOD and wider defence supply chain who require independent technical assessments as part of DCPP or DCC Level 0 compliance. We understand the framework and scope engagements appropriately for defence procurement requirements. We also deliver DCC Level 0 certification directly - contact us to discuss your specific supply chain requirement.
// The Engagement
Duration depends on scope. A focused web application test typically takes 3–5 days. A full infrastructure engagement may take 1–2 weeks. We agree scope and timelines upfront with no surprises.
We work carefully to minimise disruption. All testing is agreed in advance with defined scope and rules of engagement. We can also conduct testing outside business hours if required.
A vulnerability scan uses automated tools to identify known weaknesses. A penetration test goes further - a skilled tester manually exploits vulnerabilities, chains issues together, and identifies business-logic flaws that scanners miss. Pen testing gives you real proof of exploitability and impact.
Yes. A free 30-day retest window is included as standard in all engagements -there is no additional cost. Once you have remediated the findings, we re-test the affected areas and issue a clean retest attestation. We also provide 2 hours of direct engineer time to walk your IT team or developer through the findings and fixes.
An external penetration test assesses your systems from the perspective of an attacker on the internet - targeting externally accessible services, web applications, APIs, and network perimeters. An internal penetration test simulates an attacker who has already gained access to your internal network - assessing lateral movement, privilege escalation, and the impact of a compromised endpoint. Many compliance frameworks including PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 require both. We scope engagements to match your specific requirements and compliance obligations.
Yes. If you have a tender closing date, a contract requirement, or a specific audit deadline, contact us as early as possible. We will work backwards from your deadline to prioritise your assessment and confirm whether the timeline is achievable. Fast-track engagements are available for urgent requirements.
If we identify a critical or high-severity vulnerability during testing - for example, unauthenticated remote code execution or direct access to sensitive data - we notify you immediately and agree next steps before continuing. We do not wait until report delivery to flag critical findings. All testing is conducted within agreed rules of engagement, so you remain in control of how the engagement proceeds. Critical findings are documented with full evidence in the final report and prioritised in your remediation plan.
Phishing simulations and social engineering are not included in our standard pen testing engagements. Our testing covers technical attack surfaces - networks, web applications, cloud environments, APIs, MDM, and build configurations. If you have a specific social engineering requirement as part of a wider security programme, contact us to discuss whether it can be scoped as a separate engagement.
// Deliverables & Cost
Our reports are structured to satisfy enterprise vendor questionnaires, SOC 2 auditors, ISO 27001 certification bodies, and PCI DSS QSAs. Each finding is documented with evidence, CVSS severity scoring, and clear remediation guidance - the format auditors and procurement teams expect. If your customer or auditor has specific reporting requirements, tell us at scoping and we will accommodate them.
Guide prices start from £1,499 + VAT for a focused network or infrastructure test, and from £1,999 + VAT for web application and cloud assessments. All engagements are fixed-price before work begins - no hidden charges, no scope creep. A free 30-day retest window is included as standard in every engagement. See the pricing section above for a full breakdown by test type.
At the end of your engagement you receive a detailed technical report covering all findings, a plain-English executive summary for non-technical stakeholders, CVSS-scored severity ratings for each finding, proof-of-concept evidence, and prioritised remediation guidance. You also receive 2 hours of direct engineer time to walk your IT team or developer through the findings and fixes. Once you have remediated, your free 30-day retest window is used to verify remediation - after which you receive a clean retest attestation confirming the tested vulnerabilities have been addressed. The retest attestation is the document most commonly required by auditors, QSAs, and enterprise procurement teams as evidence of remediation.
Yes. We provide cloud security reviews and penetration testing for Azure, AWS, and Microsoft 365 environments from £1,999 + VAT. Cloud testing covers configuration review against industry benchmarks, identity and access controls, network security group rules, storage permissions, logging and monitoring gaps, and misconfiguration risks that could lead to data exposure or lateral movement. All testing is conducted remotely by UK-based senior assessors. Cloud security testing is available as a standalone engagement or combined with network or web application testing - contact us to discuss your environment.

DIRECT LEAD ASSESSOR ACCESS

Every client works directly with a qualified lead assessor from first contact through to certification. No helpdesk, no handoffs, no rotating contacts - consistent, senior-level support throughout. This is a deliberate part of how Vincent Cyber Defence operates, not an afterthought.

// Client Reviews

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

★★★★★
"Professional, thorough, and clearly explained. The report gave us exactly what we needed to demonstrate compliance to our enterprise client - findings were prioritised and easy to act on."

- HEAD OF IT / Financial Technology Company

★★★★★
"We needed a web application pen test at short notice for a contract requirement. Vincent Cyber Defence turned it around quickly without cutting corners - detailed report, clear severity ratings, and a retest to confirm our fixes."

- CTO / UK SaaS Business

★★★★★
"The PCI DSS testing was scoped correctly from the start and the report mapped directly to Requirement 11.4. Our QSA accepted it without question. Highly recommended."

- COMPLIANCE MANAGER / Payments Business

Client names are withheld in line with confidentiality requirements; character references are available upon request.

AUDIT PENDING? TENDER CLOSING?

Tell us about the requirement driving your pen test -we'll scope the right assessment and deliver the report that satisfies it.

Discuss Your Requirements →Cyber Essentials
// What Comes Next

BEYOND PENETRATION TESTING

A pen test tells you where the gaps are. These services help you close them and maintain the security posture your clients and frameworks expect.

// Next Step

CYBER ESSENTIALS

Certify the five core technical controls that underpin your security posture. Cyber Essentials is mandatory for UK Government contracts and required by many enterprise supply chains. From £320 + VAT.

Explore Cyber Essentials →// Next Step

DCC LEVEL 0

Certify your MOD supply chain cyber posture under DEFCON 658. Required for defence suppliers ahead of the Eleanor Fairford December 2026 deadline. Cyber Essentials is a mandatory prerequisite. From £650 + VAT.

Explore DCC Level 0 →// Next Step

vCISO SUPPORT

Retain a named virtual CISO to coordinate pen test scoping, manage remediation, maintain security policies, and handle ongoing certification and tender requirements. From £195/month + VAT.

Explore vCISO →
// Blog & Guides

LATEST INSIGHTS

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