Penetration Testing Services for Security

Protect your business from cyber threats with professional penetration testing services from Be Structured Technology Group.

Our automated pen testing platform identifies vulnerabilities across your internal and external networks before hackers can exploit them. Serving Los Angeles businesses since 2007, we deliver cost-effective security assessments that meet compliance requirements for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.

Professional penetration testing services can prevent cybersecurity breaches and hacks that can debilitate a company for hours and even days.

What Is Network Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing (commonly called “pen testing” or “ethical hacking”) is a controlled cybersecurity assessment that simulates real-world attacks on your computer systems, networks, and applications and unveils the untold secrets of your network.

Unlike simple vulnerability scanning, penetration testing actively attempts to exploit weaknesses in your security defenses to determine the actual risk to your organization.

Think of it this way: a vulnerability assessment tells you which doors and windows in your building might be unlocked. A penetration test actually tries to open those doors and windows to see which ones let an intruder inside and how far they could get once they’re in.

At Be Structured, our penetration testing services team use a cloud-based automated platform combined with expert analysis to evaluate your security posture quickly and affordably. We identify vulnerabilities, test your defenses, and provide actionable remediation guidance so you can fix problems before cybercriminals find them.

What Is the Primary Goal of Penetration Testing

Cyberattacks target businesses of every size. According to recent studies, 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, and many small to mid-sized companies lack the security expertise to defend themselves effectively. Here’s why penetration testing should be part of your cybersecurity strategy:

Identify Vulnerabilities Before Hackers Do

Penetration testing uncovers security weaknesses that automated scanners miss and reveals what hackers see. Our testing uncovers misconfigurations, weak credentials, unpatched software, open ports, privilege escalation opportunities, and lateral movement paths that attackers could use to compromise your systems.

Meet Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Many industries require regular penetration testing to maintain compliance. Our pen testing services help Los Angeles businesses satisfy requirements for PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, and FINRA. We provide detailed documentation that auditors need to verify your security controls.

Protect Your Reputation and Customer Trust

A data breach can devastate your business reputation. By proactively testing your defenses, you demonstrate to customers, partners, and stakeholders that you take security seriously. Many enterprise clients now require vendors to provide penetration test reports before signing contracts.

Reduce the Cost of Security Incidents

The average cost of a data breach exceeds $4 million. Penetration testing costs a fraction of that and helps you fix vulnerabilities before they lead to costly breaches, ransomware attacks, or business downtime.

How Be Structured Conducts Penetration Testing

Our penetration testing methodology combines automated cloud-based testing with expert security analysis. We use real-world attack techniques aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework to simulate how actual threat actors would target your organization. Here’s our comprehensive approach to cybersecurity testing:

Phase 1: Planning and Scoping

We work with your team to define the scope and objectives of testing. This includes identifying target systems, establishing rules of engagement, and determining what assets are most critical to your business. Our standard annual penetration test includes up to 5 external IPs and up to 100 internal IPs.

Phase 2: Reconnaissance and Discovery

Our platform maps your attack surface by scanning networks, identifying open ports and services, and gathering information about your systems. This mirrors what attackers do when researching potential targets.

Phase 3: Vulnerability Assessment

We identify vulnerabilities across your infrastructure using automated scanning combined with manual verification. This includes checking for misconfigurations, outdated software, weak authentication, and other security gaps. Unlike basic vulnerability testing, we validate findings to eliminate false positives.

Phase 4: Exploitation and Attack Simulation

Here’s where penetration testing differs from simple vulnerability scanning. We actually attempt to exploit identified weaknesses to determine if they pose a real threat. Our testing simulates real-world cyberattacks including credential attacks, privilege escalation, and lateral movement techniques.

Phase 5: Reporting and Remediation Guidance

You receive detailed professional reports that include executive summaries for leadership, technical findings for IT teams, severity ratings, and step-by-step remediation guidance. Our reports provide the evidence you need for compliance audits and help your team prioritize fixes based on actual risk.

Types of Penetration Testing We Offer

Different security concerns require different testing approaches. Be Structured offers comprehensive penetration testing services to address all aspects of your security posture:

External Network Penetration Testing

External pen testing evaluates your internet-facing assets including firewalls, web servers, email systems, VPNs, and cloud services. We test what attackers see from outside your network perimeter and identify how they might gain initial access to your systems. This is critical for businesses using cloud computing services or hosting public-facing applications.

Internal Network Penetration Testing

Internal testing simulates what an attacker could do if they gained access to your internal network, whether through a compromised employee account, phishing attack, or physical access. We test workstations, servers, Active Directory configurations, and internal network devices to identify privilege escalation and lateral movement paths.

Web Application Penetration Testing

If your business relies on web-based applications for customer service, e-commerce, or internal operations, web application testing identifies vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, authentication flaws, and business logic errors. These tests focus on application-layer security that network scanning can’t detect.

Black Box, White Box, and Gray Box Testing

Black Box Testing: Simulates an external attacker with no inside knowledge of your systems. Testers work with the same limited information a real hacker would have.

White Box Testing: Provides testers with full access to documentation, source code, and system architecture for the most thorough assessment possible.

Gray Box Testing: Combines elements of both approaches, giving testers partial information to simulate an insider threat or a more targeted attack.

Penetration Testing for Your Industry

Different industries face unique security challenges and compliance requirements. Be Structured tailors penetration testing to meet the specific needs of Los Angeles businesses in these sectors:

Healthcare Organizations

Healthcare providers handling Protected Health Information (PHI) need penetration testing to satisfy HIPAA security requirements. Our healthcare IT services team evaluates the security of patient data systems, electronic health records, medical devices, and the networks that connect them. Regular pen testing is essential for demonstrating HIPAA compliance during audits.

Financial Services and Wealth Management

Financial services firms and wealth management companies face strict regulatory oversight from FINRA, SEC, and state regulators. Our penetration testing helps you maintain PCI-DSS compliance if you process payments, and provides documentation for regulatory examinations. We identify vulnerabilities that could expose client financial data or trading systems.

Law Firms and Professional Services

Attorneys handle highly confidential client information protected by privilege. Law firms are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals seeking sensitive case information. Penetration testing verifies that client data is protected and helps firms satisfy cyber liability insurance requirements and ethics obligations around data protection.

Manufacturing and Defense Contractors

Manufacturers working with government contracts or handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) need penetration testing to meet CMMC and NIST 800-171 requirements. We test both IT networks and operational technology systems to protect intellectual property and ensure supply chain security.

Benefits of Choosing Be Structured for Penetration Testing

Automated Platform Reduces Costs

Traditional penetration testing requires expensive security consultants and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Our automated cloud-based platform significantly reduces the labor required for comprehensive testing, making professional-grade pen testing accessible and affordable for small and mid-sized businesses.

Fast Deployment and Results

While traditional pen tests can take weeks to schedule and execute, our platform allows testing to begin quickly and delivers results faster. This means you can identify and remediate vulnerabilities sooner, reducing your window of exposure to attacks.

Continuous and On-Demand Testing Options

Cyber threats evolve constantly, so annual testing isn’t always enough. Our platform supports recurring or on-demand testing, so you can maintain continuous visibility into your security posture. Many clients move from annual to monthly or quarterly testing to catch new vulnerabilities as they emerge.

Safe Testing That Won’t Disrupt Your Business

Our testing platform is designed to be non-disruptive to your operations. Built-in safety controls prevent system crashes or network overloads, making it suitable for live production environments. We work with your team to schedule testing during appropriate windows and clearly define what’s in scope.

Los Angeles-Based Support and Rapid Response

As a Los Angeles-based IT company with a downtown LA office, Be Structured provides local support that remote providers can’t match. When you need help interpreting results, planning remediation, or responding to a security incident, our team is here. We combine the efficiency of automated testing with the expertise of experienced managed security services professionals.

What’s Included in Our Penetration Testing Services

Our annual penetration test package includes comprehensive coverage of your network infrastructure:

External Network Testing: Up to 5 external IP addresses including firewalls, web servers, and internet-facing services

Internal Network Testing: Up to 100 internal IP addresses including workstations, servers, and network devices

Detailed Reporting: Professional reports with executive summaries, technical findings, severity ratings, and remediation guidance

Compliance Documentation: Evidence suitable for PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, and other compliance audits

Remediation Planning: Presentation of discovered risks and development of a prioritized remediation plan

Preferred Remediation Pricing: Remediation services quoted at reduced rates for testing clients

FAQs About Penetration Testing

What is the difference between penetration testing and vulnerability scanning?

Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies potential security weaknesses in your systems. Penetration testing goes further by actually attempting to exploit those vulnerabilities to determine if they pose a real risk. Pen testing validates findings, eliminates false positives, and shows you the actual impact of successful attacks. Think of vulnerability scanning as identifying unlocked doors, while penetration testing actually tries to open them.

How often should my business conduct penetration testing?

At minimum, organizations should conduct penetration tests annually or whenever significant changes are made to their network infrastructure. However, many compliance frameworks and cybersecurity best practices recommend more frequent testing. Our platform supports monthly, quarterly, or on-demand testing to maintain continuous visibility into your security posture as threats evolve.

Is penetration testing safe for production environments?

Yes. Our penetration testing platform is designed to be non-disruptive with built-in safety controls that prevent system crashes or network overloads. We define clear rules of engagement before testing, work with your team to schedule appropriate testing windows, and avoid actions that could impact business operations. If you have concerns about specific systems, we can test in staging environments or adjust our approach accordingly.

What types of vulnerabilities does penetration testing detect?

Our penetration testing identifies a wide range of security vulnerabilities including misconfigurations in systems and applications, unpatched or outdated software, weak credentials and authentication mechanisms, open ports and unnecessary services, privilege escalation opportunities, lateral movement paths within your network, web application vulnerabilities, and cloud security gaps.

Do I need penetration testing for compliance?

Many regulatory frameworks require or strongly recommend regular penetration testing. PCI-DSS mandates annual pen testing for organizations handling payment card data. HIPAA requires healthcare organizations to conduct security risk assessments that include penetration testing. SOC 2 audits typically expect pen testing as part of security controls. ISO 27001 and NIST frameworks include penetration testing as a security best practice. Our reports provide documentation suitable for these compliance requirements.

How long does a penetration test take?

The duration depends on the scope of testing. Our automated platform can complete assessments much faster than traditional manual testing. A typical engagement covering external and internal networks can be completed in days rather than weeks. We deliver reports quickly so your team can begin remediation promptly.

What do I receive after the penetration test?

You receive comprehensive professional reports that include an executive summary for leadership and stakeholders, detailed technical findings with evidence, severity ratings to help prioritize remediation, step-by-step remediation guidance for your IT team, and compliance documentation suitable for auditors. We also present findings and work with you to develop a prioritized remediation plan.

How much does penetration testing cost?

Traditional manual penetration testing can cost $15,000 to $50,000 or more depending on scope. Our automated platform significantly reduces these costs while maintaining professional-grade results. Contact us for a customized quote based on your specific testing needs. The investment in penetration testing is minimal compared to the potential costs of a data breach, which averages over $4 million.

Is penetration testing only for large enterprises?

Absolutely not. Penetration testing is essential for businesses of all sizes. In fact, small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals who know these organizations often have weaker defenses. Our automated testing platform makes professional penetration testing accessible and affordable for smaller organizations that couldn’t previously justify the cost of traditional manual testing.

Can Be Structured help with remediation after the test?

Yes. While remediation from the initial report is not included in the base testing service, we present all discovered risks and develop a remediation plan with you. Our team can then perform remediation work at preferred rates for testing clients. As a full-service managed IT services provider, we have the expertise to address vulnerabilities across your infrastructure.

Get Started with Professional Penetration Testing

Don’t wait for a breach to discover your vulnerabilities. Be Structured Technology Group delivers professional penetration testing services that help Los Angeles businesses identify and fix security weaknesses before attackers exploit them. Our automated platform makes comprehensive security testing accessible and affordable for organizations of all sizes.

Schedule your free security consultation today to discuss your penetration testing needs. Contact us to get started.

Related Security Resources

Learn more about protecting your business with these related articles and resources from our blog: