IT Security Testing Services

Find Vulnerabilities Before
Attackers Find Them First

The threat landscape in 2026 is relentless. Ransomware gangs, nation-state actors, and opportunistic hackers probe your defenses around the clock. Automated scanners alone cannot replicate the creativity of a skilled adversary. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. delivers penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, red team exercises, and compliance-driven security audits that reveal the real-world attack paths threatening your business, giving you the intelligence to close gaps before a breach occurs.

30+ years of cybersecurity expertise. BBB A+ Accredited since 2003.

PTES Methodology OWASP Top 10 Red Team Operations 2,500+ Clients

Q: What types of security testing does my business need? The answer depends on your industry, compliance requirements, and risk profile. Most organizations need a combination of penetration testing to simulate real attacks, vulnerability assessments for ongoing visibility, and compliance-driven audits tied to frameworks like HIPAA, PCI DSS, or CMMC. Companies handling sensitive data or intellectual property should also consider red team exercises and social engineering assessments. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. designs custom testing programs that match your threat landscape, regulatory obligations, and budget. Schedule a free consultation to determine the right testing scope for your organization.

Core Security Testing Disciplines

Every testing engagement is tailored to your environment and objectives. These four pillars form the foundation of a mature security testing program that goes far beyond checkbox compliance.

Penetration Testing

Certified testers simulate real-world attacks against your networks, applications, and cloud infrastructure. We exploit discovered vulnerabilities, chain findings together, and demonstrate exactly how far an attacker could penetrate your defenses. Every finding includes proof-of-concept evidence and prioritized remediation guidance.

Vulnerability Assessment

Comprehensive scanning and expert analysis identify known weaknesses across your entire environment. We validate findings to eliminate false positives, add business-context risk ratings, and deliver continuous visibility into your security posture through recurring assessment cycles that satisfy compliance mandates.

Red Team / Blue Team

Our red team simulates advanced adversary campaigns using the MITRE ATT&CK framework, while your blue team defends in real time. These exercises test your people, processes, and technology holistically, revealing detection gaps and response weaknesses that standard penetration tests cannot uncover.

Compliance Testing

We map testing engagements directly to the control requirements of HIPAA, PCI DSS, CMMC, SOC 2, NIST 800-171, and ISO 27001. Our compliance-aligned reports give auditors the evidence they need, saving your team weeks of documentation work and ensuring you meet every regulatory testing mandate.

Why Security Testing Matters More Than Ever

The gap between what organizations believe about their security posture and the reality of their defenses has never been wider. Businesses invest millions in firewalls, endpoint detection, and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms, yet breaches continue to accelerate. The reason is straightforward: defensive tools only protect against threats they are configured to detect. Security testing bridges the gap between theoretical protection and proven resilience by subjecting your environment to the same tactics, techniques, and procedures that real adversaries use. A penetration test does not ask whether your firewall is turned on. It asks whether an attacker can get past it, and then proves the answer with evidence.

Regulatory pressure is also intensifying. The SEC now requires publicly traded companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents within four business days. The FTC has expanded enforcement of data protection obligations under Section 5. CMMC 2.0 is making security testing a prerequisite for defense contractors seeking new contracts. HIPAA enforcement actions increasingly cite the absence of regular vulnerability assessments as evidence of willful neglect. PCI DSS 4.0, which becomes mandatory in 2025, introduces stricter penetration testing requirements than previous versions. Organizations that treat security testing as an annual checkbox exercise rather than a continuous discipline are falling behind both their adversaries and their regulators.

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. has delivered security testing services since 2002, working with organizations across healthcare, financial services, government contracting, legal, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Our methodology integrates the OWASP Testing Guide, NIST SP 800-115, the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES), and the MITRE ATT&CK framework into a unified approach that is both technically rigorous and aligned with your specific compliance requirements. Whether you need a focused external penetration test, an ongoing vulnerability management program, or a full-scope red team engagement that stress-tests your entire security operation, Petronella Technology Group, Inc. provides the expertise, methodology, and actionable intelligence your organization needs to understand its true risk posture and measurably improve it.

Security Testing Services in Detail

Each service follows a structured methodology and produces deliverables designed to drive remediation, satisfy compliance, and give your leadership team clear visibility into organizational risk.

Network Penetration Testing

Network penetration testing evaluates your perimeter and internal infrastructure from the perspective of a motivated attacker. Our external tests begin with open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering, DNS enumeration, and service fingerprinting before moving to active exploitation of discovered vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems, VPN gateways, mail servers, and cloud-hosted services. Internal tests simulate a compromised employee workstation or a malicious insider, targeting Active Directory misconfigurations, Kerberoasting paths, LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning, lateral movement opportunities, and privilege escalation chains that could lead to domain administrator compromise.

We test both IPv4 and IPv6 attack surfaces, evaluate network segmentation between security zones, and assess whether detection tools flag our activity. Every finding is documented with timestamps, screenshots, and exploitation evidence. Critical vulnerabilities discovered during testing trigger an immediate notification to your designated contact so remediation can begin without waiting for the final report. Our network penetration testing methodology aligns with NIST SP 800-115 and the PTES framework, and reports map findings to the specific compliance controls required by your regulatory environment.

Web Application Security Testing

Web applications are the primary attack surface for most organizations. Our application security testing follows the OWASP Testing Guide and covers the full OWASP Top 10, including injection flaws (SQL, NoSQL, command injection), broken authentication and session management, cross-site scripting (reflected, stored, and DOM-based), insecure direct object references, server-side request forgery, and security misconfigurations. We go beyond the Top 10 to test for business logic vulnerabilities unique to your application workflow, such as price manipulation, privilege escalation through parameter tampering, race conditions, and insecure file upload handling.

For API-driven architectures, we test RESTful APIs, GraphQL endpoints, and WebSocket implementations for authentication weaknesses, authorization bypass, excessive data exposure, and rate limiting deficiencies. Our reports include proof-of-concept demonstrations for each finding along with specific code-level remediation recommendations that your development team can implement during their next sprint. We also test single-page applications (SPAs), progressive web apps, and serverless function endpoints that are increasingly common in modern architectures and introduce their own unique security considerations around client-side trust and event-driven execution models.

Social Engineering & Phishing Tests

Human error remains the leading vector in successful breaches. Our social engineering assessments evaluate how well your employees resist the same manipulation techniques real attackers deploy. We design custom phishing campaigns ranging from broad-based credential harvesting to highly targeted spear-phishing scenarios aimed at executives, finance staff, and IT administrators. Campaigns track click rates, credential submission rates, attachment open rates, and critically, reporting rates that measure how often employees flag suspicious messages to your security team.

Beyond email, we conduct voice phishing (vishing) assessments where testers call employees posing as IT support or vendors to extract sensitive information, SMS phishing (smishing) campaigns, and physical social engineering tests including tailgating, badge cloning, and pretexting to evaluate facility access controls. In 2026, AI-generated deepfake voice and video attacks are an emerging threat, and our assessments incorporate realistic scenarios that test awareness of these new vectors. Every assessment concludes with anonymized departmental statistics and specific recommendations for improving your security awareness training program. We never use results to punish individuals; the goal is always to strengthen your organizational security culture through data-driven training improvements.

Wireless & IoT Security Assessment

Wireless networks and IoT devices extend your security perimeter beyond the physical walls of your facility. Our wireless security testing identifies rogue access points, evaluates WPA2-Enterprise and WPA3 configurations, tests RADIUS authentication, assesses network segmentation between corporate, guest, and IoT networks, and performs evil twin attacks to determine whether employees connect to spoofed wireless networks. We test from multiple physical locations around your facility to map signal coverage and identify areas where wireless signals leak into publicly accessible spaces.

IoT security assessments evaluate smart building systems, IP cameras, badge readers, HVAC controllers, printers, VoIP phones, and other connected devices that are often deployed with default credentials, unpatched firmware, and minimal network isolation. These devices frequently serve as pivot points for attackers who use them to gain a foothold on otherwise well-defended networks. We test device firmware for known vulnerabilities, evaluate management interfaces, assess update mechanisms, and verify that IoT segments are properly isolated from sensitive data networks. Our reports include heat maps of wireless coverage, inventories of all detected wireless devices, and specific recommendations for hardening your wireless and IoT infrastructure.

Cloud Security Testing

Cloud misconfigurations are a leading cause of data breaches, and the shared responsibility model means your organization is accountable for securing everything above the hypervisor. Our cloud security assessments evaluate AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and hybrid environments for identity and access management (IAM) policy weaknesses, publicly accessible storage buckets, overly permissive security groups, unencrypted data stores, missing audit logging, insecure serverless function configurations, and container and Kubernetes security gaps.

We benchmark your cloud configuration against CIS Benchmarks for each platform and map findings to your applicable compliance frameworks, whether that is SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or CMMC. For organizations operating multi-cloud or hybrid environments, we evaluate the security of interconnections between cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure, assess the consistency of security controls across platforms, and identify visibility gaps that could allow attackers to move laterally between environments undetected. Our cloud testing is conducted within each provider's acceptable use policy and coordinated with your cloud team to ensure zero disruption to production workloads.

Compliance-Driven Security Audits (HIPAA, PCI, CMMC)

Many organizations require security testing specifically to satisfy regulatory mandates. We design compliance-aligned testing programs that address each framework's unique requirements and produce reports auditors can directly reference. For HIPAA compliance, our testing covers the technical safeguards required by 45 CFR 164.312, including access controls, audit controls, integrity controls, and transmission security for systems handling ePHI. PCI DSS 4.0 testing satisfies Requirements 6.4 (application security), 11.3 (penetration testing), and 11.4 (intrusion detection), with segmentation testing to validate cardholder data environment boundaries.

For defense contractors pursuing CMMC certification, our testing maps to all applicable NIST SP 800-171 control families and produces evidence artifacts that support your System Security Plan and CMMC assessment readiness. SOC 2 Type II examinations require evidence that security controls are operating effectively over time, and our testing delivers the proof your auditor needs for Trust Services Criteria CC6, CC7, and CC8. We also support ISO 27001 certification testing and NIST Cybersecurity Framework assessments. Regardless of the framework, our compliance testing goes beyond minimum requirements to identify real security risks, not just documentation gaps, giving your organization both a passing audit score and genuine security improvement.

Our Security Testing Process

A proven five-phase methodology that delivers thorough coverage, safe execution, and actionable results while minimizing disruption to your business operations.

1

Scoping

We define objectives, target systems, testing windows, rules of engagement, and exclusions. A signed scope document establishes clear boundaries, emergency contacts, and escalation procedures before any testing activity begins.

2

Reconnaissance

Our testers gather intelligence using the same techniques real attackers employ: OSINT, DNS enumeration, network mapping, service fingerprinting, and Active Directory discovery. This phase builds the target picture needed for effective exploitation.

3

Testing

Certified testers manually exploit vulnerabilities, chain findings to demonstrate realistic attack scenarios, and pursue defined objectives. All activity is documented in real time. Critical findings trigger immediate notification to your team.

4

Analysis

We compile findings into a comprehensive report with executive summary, technical details, evidence screenshots, risk ratings based on business context, compliance mapping, and prioritized remediation recommendations your team can act on immediately.

5

Remediation

We walk your team through findings, discuss remediation approaches, and help prioritize fixes based on risk. After your team implements corrections, we perform targeted retesting to verify each vulnerability has been effectively resolved.

Why Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for Security Testing

Craig Petronella: 30+ Years of Cybersecurity Leadership

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. is led by CEO Craig Petronella, a North Carolina Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner (License #604180-DFE), CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner (CRP), MIT-certified cybersecurity professional, and Amazon best-selling author. Craig has served as a Cybersecurity Expert Witness in federal and state litigation and brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience in offensive security, digital forensics, and compliance consulting. His direct involvement in testing engagements ensures executive-level oversight, forensic-grade evidence documentation, and strategic remediation guidance that connects technical findings to business risk.

24 Years of Proven Results

Founded in 2002, Petronella Technology Group, Inc. has been BBB A+ Accredited since 2003 and has served more than 2,500 clients across healthcare, financial services, government contracting, legal, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Through our partner network, our testing engagements have access to professionals holding certifications including OSCP, CEH, CISSP, GPEN, GXPN, and CompTIA PenTest+. This breadth of experience means we understand the technical vulnerabilities, business context, and regulatory requirements specific to your industry. We know what auditors expect, what regulators look for, and what attack scenarios are most relevant to your threat model.

Testing Plus Remediation: A Complete Security Partner

Unlike testing-only firms that hand you a report and walk away, Petronella Technology Group, Inc. offers a full spectrum of cybersecurity services including managed security services, incident response, compliance consulting, and managed IT. When we find vulnerabilities, we can also fix them. This end-to-end capability eliminates the gap between discovery and remediation that plagues organizations working with point-solution testing vendors. A recent engagement for a mid-sized healthcare organization illustrates this advantage: our penetration test revealed a critical Active Directory misconfiguration that would have allowed any authenticated user to escalate to domain administrator privileges. Our managed services team remediated the finding within 48 hours, retested to confirm the fix, and implemented ongoing monitoring to detect similar misconfigurations in the future, all under a single partner relationship.

Actionable Reports That Drive Results

Our reports are designed to drive action, not collect dust. Every finding includes a clear description, proof-of-concept evidence, business impact analysis, specific remediation steps, and mapping to applicable compliance requirements. We provide executive summaries for leadership and board presentations alongside detailed technical appendices for your IT team. After delivery, we conduct a findings walkthrough to ensure your team fully understands each issue. For risk assessments and red team engagements, we also run purple team debrief sessions where our offensive team collaborates with your defensive team to improve detection rules and response procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions About IT Security Testing

Answers to the questions business leaders and IT teams ask most often when evaluating security testing services.

How often should penetration testing be done?

At a minimum, most compliance frameworks require annual penetration testing. PCI DSS mandates annual pen tests and quarterly vulnerability scans. CMMC and HIPAA require regular security assessments, and most organizations satisfy this with annual penetration tests supplemented by monthly or quarterly vulnerability scans. Beyond compliance minimums, best practice recommends testing after any significant infrastructure change, major application deployment, merger or acquisition, or security incident. Organizations with high-risk environments or rapidly changing infrastructure should consider semi-annual penetration testing. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. can help you determine the right cadence based on your regulatory obligations and threat profile.

What is the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies known weaknesses across your environment using databases of known CVEs and misconfigurations. It provides broad coverage but does not verify whether vulnerabilities are actually exploitable. Penetration testing is a manual, human-driven exercise where certified testers actively exploit vulnerabilities, chain findings together, and demonstrate real-world attack paths. A vulnerability scan might tell you a server is missing a patch; a penetration test proves that the missing patch allows an attacker to gain administrative access and steal data. Most organizations need both: regular vulnerability scans for continuous visibility and annual penetration tests for depth and validation.

What is red team testing?

Red team testing is the most comprehensive form of security assessment available. Unlike penetration testing, which focuses on finding as many vulnerabilities as possible within a defined scope, a red team engagement simulates a realistic adversary campaign with specific objectives, such as accessing the CEO's email, exfiltrating customer data, or achieving domain administrator access. Red team operations use stealth, target multiple attack vectors simultaneously (phishing, network exploitation, physical access, wireless attacks), and unfold over weeks or months. The red team models its tactics on real threat actors relevant to your industry using the MITRE ATT&CK framework. After the engagement, a purple team debrief brings the offensive and defensive teams together to review detection gaps and strengthen your security operations.

How much does a penetration test cost?

Penetration test pricing depends on the scope, complexity, and type of engagement. A focused external network penetration test for a small environment typically costs less than a comprehensive internal and external assessment for a large enterprise with multiple locations and cloud environments. Web application tests vary based on application complexity and the number of endpoints. Red team engagements are the most intensive and are priced accordingly. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. provides detailed, fixed-price proposals after a free scoping consultation so you know exactly what you are paying for before the engagement begins. The cost of a penetration test is a fraction of the average data breach cost, which IBM reports at $4.88 million in 2024. Contact us for a customized quote based on your specific environment and objectives.

What compliance frameworks require security testing?

Most major compliance frameworks mandate some form of security testing. PCI DSS requires annual penetration testing (Requirement 11.4) and quarterly vulnerability scanning (Requirement 11.3). HIPAA requires regular security risk assessments under 45 CFR 164.308, and penetration testing provides the technical validation component. CMMC 2.0 requires security assessments aligned with NIST SP 800-171, and C3PAO assessors increasingly expect penetration test results as supporting evidence. SOC 2 Type II audits look for evidence that security controls are operating effectively, which penetration testing directly demonstrates. ISO 27001 requires regular security testing as part of continuous improvement. NIST 800-53 and FedRAMP both include penetration testing requirements for federal systems and cloud service providers.

Will penetration testing disrupt my business operations?

We design every engagement to minimize business disruption. During the scoping phase, we identify critical systems, peak business hours, and any testing restrictions. Rules of engagement define acceptable testing boundaries, and our testers are trained to avoid denial-of-service conditions and other disruptive techniques unless specifically authorized. For production systems, we often recommend testing during off-peak hours or against staging environments. Some level of risk is inherent in active testing, which is why we carry professional liability insurance and have incident response procedures in place for the rare event that testing causes an unintended service impact. In practice, the vast majority of our engagements complete without any noticeable impact on business operations.

How long does a penetration test take?

Timeline varies by scope and engagement type. A focused external network penetration test for a small environment typically takes three to five business days of active testing. A comprehensive internal and external test for a mid-sized organization runs one to two weeks. Web application tests range from one to three weeks depending on application complexity. Red team engagements span two to six weeks of active operations. After active testing, allow one to two additional weeks for report preparation and quality assurance. We provide detailed timeline estimates during the scoping phase so your team can plan accordingly.

Do you provide remediation support after testing?

Yes, and this is a key differentiator. Many testing firms hand you a report and move on. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. offers the full range of cybersecurity and managed IT services needed to actually fix the issues we find. Our reports include specific, actionable remediation guidance for every finding. After the debrief, our team is available for follow-up consultations. For organizations that need hands-on help, our managed security services team can implement hardening measures, patch management, configuration changes, and architectural improvements. We also offer remediation verification retesting at no additional charge to confirm that fixes have been successfully implemented, giving you documented proof of remediation for auditors and regulators.

Ready to Test Your Security Defenses?

Do not wait for a breach to discover what an attacker already knows about your environment. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. delivers the security testing expertise, proven methodology, and actionable intelligence your organization needs to close gaps, satisfy compliance mandates, and build genuine resilience. Contact us today for a free scoping consultation.

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. • 5540 Centerview Dr. Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606 • [email protected]

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