What are the benefits of an External Penetration Test?
An external infrastructure penetration test simulates a real-world attack on your organisation’s outward-facing systems using the internet. Identify internet-facing vulnerabilities before attackers do, with clear, actionable remediation guidance using CREST-accredited penetration testing services.
WATCH OUR APPROACH
How we approach your external network penetration test.
Watch this short methodology overview to see how Sencode scopes the engagement, identifies meaningful risk and turns technical findings into clear remediation priorities.
Common External Penetration Testing Vulnerabilities
Want to find out if your external network has these vulnerabilities?
What does choosing a CREST provider mean?
CREST accreditation is an independent, rigorous assessment of technical competence, process and data security. Choosing a CREST-accredited provider means your testing is delivered to a standard you can trust – and evidence you can stand behind.
Certified Penetration Testing Consultants
Our consultants are highly trained and individually certified.
Proven Pen Test Methodologies
Our pen testing follows recognised best practices: PTES, OWASP, and NIST.
Compliant reporting
Our reports provide executive context, technical evidence, risk-rated findings and practical remediation guidance.
ISO aligned
Our information security and quality policies align with ISO 27001 and ISO 9001.
Grey, Black and White Box Penetration Testing
At Sencode, we test from every perspective. Not sure which fits your needs? Speak to a member of our team; our experts are on hand to advise.
What does an External Penetration Test include?
Insecure VPN & IPsec Configurations
Weak or Insecure SSH Configurations
Password-Based Remote Authentication
Unencrypted Services & Login Portals
Exposed Administrative Interfaces
TLS & Certificate Misconfigurations
Outdated Software & Network Services
Unnecessary Internet-Facing Services
Exposed Sensitive Files & Information
Inadequate Authentication Rate Limiting
Service & Version Information Disclosure
External Attack Surface Misconfigurations
Penetration test reports, delivered securely.
Clear reporting turns technical findings into practical action. Every engagement includes evidence, prioritised remediation guidance and content that both technical teams and decision-makers can understand.
Contact a consulting team member by phone, email, or pigeon post. We will then discuss whether we can help you and arrange a scoping meeting to discuss your requirements.
In the scoping meeting, our team will discuss your requirements in further detail. Our team will ask questions in regards to the following:
Our expert consultants will discuss and finalise which digital assets you need testing in the scoping meeting. Based on the requirements, we will then assemble a project proposal and quote and agree on a schedule for conducting the security assessment. Our proposal document will include the following information:
The Penetration Testing starts. A member of our Penetration Testing team will liaise with a member of your company throughout the entire testing process. You will be the first to know if we have any questions or concerns. Our testing team will be on hand throughout the penetration test lifecycle to answer any questions or concerns. Our tester will:
A Penetration Test is useless without a well-written report. Our reports are written in plain English, concise, and thoroughly documented. The Penetration Test Report is typically furnished within 5 days after the testing phase is complete. If you are interested in seeing an example report, please contact our team.
Each report details the following:
At Sencode, we offer free retesting for every Penetration Test we conduct. You fix the issues; then we will verify they can no longer be exploited by an attacker. Our team will arrange a mutually suitable time to conduct the retest, after the remediation efforts have taken place. Our tester will follow these steps:
Our clients receive a testing certificate that can be shared with partners and customers, showing that their company takes security seriously. The certificate and document are designed to be easily digested by third-party suppliers, the document removes the technical details and can be safely distributed.
The Security Testing Certificate is available on request, after the retest has been complete. The security certificate shows:
Get in touch for a consultation.
Contact a consulting team member by phone, email, or pigeon post. We will then discuss whether we can help you and arrange a scoping meeting to discuss your requirements.
In the scoping meeting, our team will discuss your requirements in further detail. Our team will ask questions in regards to the following:
Client Testimonials
Don’t just trust our word for it; hear what our clients have to say about working with our team.
“The team at Sencode are flexible and easy to work with while also being extremely diligent and professional in what they do. As a result, we regard Sencode as a critical partner in ensuring our software is properly tested.”
Chief Technical Officer
Huler
“We held a briefing meeting with Callum to demo the system, answer relevant questions, and provide access for testing. Once the testing was completed, the report was efficient and comprehensive.”
Project Manager
Trinity College Dublin
“The team was super friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to chat with us. They did really great work, and I’m very happy that we got to work with them.”
IT Director
Diversity and Ability
“All conversations with Sencode have been very easy, and it’s clear that the team know their stuff. From the initial chat to the retesting process, we’ve been kept informed and supported throughout.”
Digital Lead
Verve Group
“Sencode have conducted our penetration testing for the last two years. Each time, they were professional, polite and kept us informed throughout the process. The reports were received in a timely manner and were concisely written. All this and at a competitive rate.”
Technical Engineer
Pip Studios
“Working with Sencode has been brilliant. You can tell they genuinely love what they do – it shows in how thoroughly they test everything and dig into the details. Even a non-tech person could understand what they found and what needed fixing.”
Cyber Security Specialist
Home Group
Frequently Asked Questions: External Penetration Testing
External penetration testing simulates an attacker from outside your network, targeting internet-facing systems such as firewalls, VPNs, and web applications to see how an attacker could break in. Internal penetration testing simulates an attacker who already has network access, assessing how far they could move laterally and what damage they could do once inside.
Yes. External penetration testing is conducted remotely by design, with testers assessing your internet-facing systems from outside the network. Just as a real-world attacker would, without needing any on-site access.
At Sencode, all our pen testing services come with a free retest if booked within a 6-month window.
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Explore Our Downloadable Resources
Penetration Testing Buyer’s Guide
Our Penetration Testing Buyer’s Guide 2025 outlines penetration testing fundamentals, service types, cost factors, testing approaches, and compliance considerations. Download a copy of our guide.
OWASP API Top 10 Flash Cards
The OWASP API Top 10 Flash Cards highlight critical security threats affecting modern APIs, including authorisation flaws, misconfigurations, and unsafe integrations and many more. Download a copy of the cards.