Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing

Validate external exposure with controlled testing and clear recommendations.

ACS provides external penetration testing for authorized internet-facing systems. Every engagement includes vulnerability scanning, controlled exploitation, password spraying, and an Active Directory password audit, with timing, access, and safe-testing windows planned before testing begins.

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Security consultant reviewing penetration testing findings in a modern office
How ACS works
1Define
2Test
3Audit
4Report
PlanConfirmed targets
TestExternal exposure
AuditPassword audit
ReportFindings and recommendations

External attack-surface testing

Assess internet-facing systems through vulnerability scanning and controlled exploitation attempts designed to reveal real exposure.

Password spraying and access attempts

Evaluate externally reachable authentication paths such as VPN or email through controlled password-spraying activity in the test plan.

Clear findings reports

Receive executive and technical findings reports with severity, evidence, affected assets, potential business impact, remediation guidance, and recommended next steps.

Pen testing that prioritizes exposure.

Confirm external targets, points of contact, allowlisting needs, account access, and a safe testing window before work beginsCombine vulnerability scanning, controlled exploitation attempts, password spraying, and access-path validationDeliver executive and technical findings reports that translate test activity into prioritized findings and practical next steps
Confirmed environment
  • External target list
  • IP lists and technical contacts
  • Allowlisting requirements
  • Accounts
  • Approved internal access, accounts, tools, or deployment steps when needed
ACS penetration testing
  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Controlled exploitation
  • Password spraying
  • Access-path validation
  • Active Directory (AD) password audit
  • Recommendations
DefineTestAuditReport
Why test externally
01

Exposure should be tested before attackers find it.

Asset lists and diagrams can miss how systems appear from the internet; controlled external testing validates what is actually exposed.

02

Scanning is only the beginning.

Penetration testing adds controlled exploitation attempts to validate whether identified vulnerabilities could create unwanted access or business disruption.

03

Authentication paths need controlled testing.

Password spraying against planned access points can uncover weak credential practices, exposed authentication surfaces, and account-protection gaps.

04

Findings need to move from technical detail to action.

Useful reports translate testing activity into prioritized observations and recommendations that leaders and technical teams can use for remediation planning.

Key capabilities

Testing capabilities for clear findings.

Penetration Testing

Planning and test readiness

Confirm external targets, testing windows, approved accounts, emergency contacts, technical points of contact, testing boundaries, and systems that should stay outside the engagement.

Penetration Testing

Vulnerability scanning

Scan external assets to identify potential vulnerabilities, exposed services, weak configurations, and attack paths that may warrant deeper validation.

Penetration Testing

Controlled exploitation

Attempt controlled exploitation of identified vulnerabilities to validate technical impact, affected assets, likely business risk, and whether a finding represents more than a scanner result.

Penetration Testing

Password spraying

Test authentication surfaces such as VPN or email with controlled password-spraying activity to surface identity-based exposure, rate limits, and safety controls.

Penetration Testing

Active Directory (AD) password audit

Conduct Active Directory password audits using the access and tools required for the engagement.

Common use cases

Pen testing for clearer next steps.

External exposure review

Understand how internet-facing systems and services may appear from outside the organization across the test plan.

Vulnerability validation

Move beyond a vulnerability list by testing whether priority findings can be exploited, what identity or access path they may expose, and what business impact they may create.

Credential attack readiness

Assess password-spraying exposure for VPN, email, or other external authentication points in the test plan.

Next-step planning

Use executive and technical reporting to align risk owners, affected assets, evidence, remediation guidance, next-step discussions, and follow-up planning.

How it works

How findings become recommendations.

01

Define

Confirm the testing plan, target ownership, external IP lists, test contacts, allowlisting needs, account access, and any internal IP lists or setup needs for the test.

02

Scan

Perform vulnerability scanning against external assets to identify exposure and candidate findings for further validation.

03

Validate

Attempt exploitation and password spraying as part of the agreed test plan, with internal access validation and Active Directory password audit activity coordinated during the safe-testing window.

04

Report

Deliver executive and technical findings reports within 7 days of test completion, translating test activity into prioritized findings, business-impact context, and practical next steps.

Next step

Need validated findings on external exposure and attack paths?

ACS can plan and execute an external penetration test that validates exposure, credential risk, access paths, and prioritized findings for the systems your organization wants tested.

External penetration testingPassword spraying and AD auditExecutive + technical reports
Acrisure Cyber Services penetration testing consultation workspace