Penetration Testing Methodology

Every engagement begins with a scoping session where we define the target surface, test windows, and success criteria. We agree on in-scope assets, credentials, source IP ranges, and rate limits, then document them in a rules-of-engagement document signed before testing starts.

This keeps the exercise bounded, legal, and reproducible. Scope changes during a test are handled through a formal change request so the engagement record stays accurate and auditable.

Testing follows a phased sequence: reconnaissance, enumeration, vulnerability discovery, exploitation, post-exploitation, and impact analysis. For web applications we apply the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide; for mobile we apply MASVS and the MSTG; for APIs we test authentication, authorization, input validation, and business logic.

We chain findings the way a real adversary would, demonstrating actual impact rather than listing theoretical weaknesses. A single misconfigured header or a flawed authorization check is rarely the end of the path — it is the entry point we use to reach the next layer.

Findings are documented with reproduction steps, evidence, affected components, and a CVSS v3.1 base score. Each report maps results to relevant control frameworks — OWASP Top 10, NIST CSF, ISO 27001 Annex A, or NIS2 Article 21 — so results integrate into your existing risk register.

We separate critical-path issues from hygiene findings so remediation effort is prioritized correctly, and every finding includes a concrete remediation recommendation rather than a generic reference.

After remediation, we retest every fixed finding and confirm whether the vulnerability is genuinely closed, partially mitigated, or still present. A retest letter documents the verification outcome.

We do not mark findings closed based on patch notes alone — we re-execute the original attack path under the same conditions and report what we observe.