How Penetration Testing Works: A Guide for SMBs

What is a Penetration Test?

A Penetration Test (or pentest) is a controlled simulation of a cyber attack, performed to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's systems, networks, and applications.

The 5 Phases of a Penetration Test

1. Reconnaissance

The first phase involves gathering information about the target: open ports, exposed services, software versions, DNS records, SSL certificates, and other publicly accessible information.

2. Scanning and Analysis

Using automated tools and advanced analysis engines, known vulnerabilities associated with detected services and configurations are identified.

3. Vulnerability Identification

Each vulnerability is classified according to the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) framework with severity from Critical to Low, and mapped to its CVE identifier.

4. Reporting and Remediation

A detailed PDF report is generated with:

• Complete list of discovered vulnerabilities
• Classification by severity (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
• Technical description and potential impact
• Recommended solutions for each finding
• Digital signature with RFC 3161 timestamp

5. Fix Verification (Targeted Rescan)

After applying fixes, you can verify each vulnerability fix with a Targeted Rescan, without repeating the entire scan.

Why Penetration Testing is Essential for SMBs

Small and medium businesses are often the preferred target of attackers because they have fewer resources dedicated to security. Regular penetration testing helps:

• Identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited
• Demonstrate compliance with regulations (GDPR, NIS2)
• Protect customer data and business reputation
• Obtain an RFC 3161 certified document valid as evidence

How Much Does a Penetration Test Cost?

With SecureScan, you choose a subscription from €9.90/month (recurring credits) or one-time credit top-ups from €14.90. Buy credits and use them whenever you want.