Discover Your Security Weaknesses Before Cyber Criminals Do

Penetration Testing

No organisation is completely immune to cyber attacks. Even businesses with firewalls, antivirus software and Cyber Essentials certification can unknowingly have vulnerabilities that attackers are ready to exploit.

Penetration Testing, often referred to as Pen Testing or Ethical Hacking, is one of the most effective ways to identify these weaknesses before cyber criminals discover them.

At Soltech IT Ltd, we provide professional penetration testing services that safely simulate real-world cyber attacks against your systems, networks and applications. By thinking like an attacker, we help you uncover security weaknesses, prioritise risks and strengthen your defences before they become costly incidents.

Whether you're preparing for Cyber Essentials Plus, meeting compliance requirements or simply wanting confidence in your security, penetration testing provides valuable insight into your organisation's resilience.

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is an authorised cyber security assessment carried out by skilled ethical hackers. Using many of the same tools and techniques as malicious attackers, they attempt to identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities within your IT environment.

Unlike automated vulnerability scans, penetration testing combines advanced tools with human expertise to uncover weaknesses that automated systems may miss.

The goal isn't to disrupt your business—it's to find vulnerabilities in a controlled, authorised manner so they can be fixed before they are exploited by cyber criminals.

Why is Penetration Testing Important?

Cyber attackers are constantly searching for organisations with weak security. A single vulnerability—whether it's an exposed server, weak password, outdated software or vulnerable web application—can lead to ransomware, data theft or complete business disruption.

Regular penetration testing helps organisations:

• Identify hidden security weaknesses
• Prevent data breaches
• Reduce the risk of ransomware
• Protect customer information
• Validate existing security controls
• Meet compliance requirements
• Support cyber insurance requirements
• Improve overall cyber resilience

For many organisations, penetration testing is no longer considered optional—it is an essential part of a proactive cyber security strategy.

Our Penetration Testing Services

At Soltech IT, we offer a range of penetration testing services tailored to your business and risk profile.

External Penetration Testing

External penetration testing examines the systems and services that are accessible from the internet.

This includes:

• Firewalls
• Public IP addresses
• VPN services
• Remote Desktop services
• Microsoft 365 exposure
• Email services
• Internet-facing applications

The objective is to determine what an attacker could access without having any internal knowledge of your organisation.

Internal Penetration Testing

If an attacker gains access to your network—perhaps through a phishing email or compromised laptop—how far could they go?

Internal penetration testing simulates this scenario by assessing your internal network security.

Testing includes:

• Active Directory
• Windows Servers
• User permissions
• Privilege escalation
• File servers
• Network segmentation
• Shared folders
• Password security
• Lateral movement

This provides valuable insight into how quickly an attacker could spread throughout your organisation.

Web Application Penetration Testing

Websites and online portals are among the most common targets for cyber attacks.

Our web application testing assesses:

• Customer portals
• Business applications
• Login systems
• APIs
• Forms
• Databases
• Authentication
• Session management

We identify vulnerabilities that could expose customer data or allow unauthorised access.

Microsoft 365 Security Testing

Microsoft 365 has become one of the most targeted platforms for cyber criminals.

We assess:

• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Conditional Access
• User permissions
• SharePoint security
• OneDrive sharing
• Exchange Online
• Microsoft Teams
• Entra ID configuration

Helping ensure your cloud environment is properly secured.

Wireless Network Testing

Wireless networks are often overlooked but can provide attackers with a route into your business.

Testing includes:

• Wi-Fi encryption
• Rogue access points
• Guest network separation
• Wireless authentication
• Signal exposure

What's Included in a Penetration Test?

Every penetration test includes a structured approach designed to minimise disruption while providing clear, actionable results.

Our process includes:

Planning

We define the scope of the engagement, agree testing windows and identify any systems that require special consideration.

Reconnaissance

Our ethical hackers gather information about your environment to understand what an attacker could discover.

Vulnerability Assessment

We identify weaknesses using a combination of automated tools and manual investigation.

Controlled Exploitation

Where appropriate, vulnerabilities are safely exploited to demonstrate their real-world impact without compromising business operations.

Reporting

You receive a detailed technical report together with an executive summary suitable for management.

Remediation Support

We don't simply identify problems—we help you understand how to fix them and can assist with implementing the recommended improvements.

Why Human Testing Matters

Many organisations rely solely on automated vulnerability scanning.

While vulnerability scanners are useful, they cannot replace experienced ethical hackers.

Human testers can:

• Identify complex attack paths
• Combine multiple low-risk vulnerabilities into high-risk scenarios
• Discover business logic flaws
• Assess privilege escalation opportunities
• Validate whether vulnerabilities are genuinely exploitable
• Eliminate false positives

Combining manual testing with automated analysis provides a far more accurate assessment of your security.

Who Needs Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is suitable for organisations of every size and is particularly valuable for businesses that:

• Store customer information
• Handle financial data
• Process payments
• Operate cloud services
• Use Microsoft 365
• Have remote workers
• Need Cyber Essentials Plus
• Require cyber insurance
• Must comply with regulatory requirements

We regularly work with:

• Professional Services
• Manufacturers
• Engineering Companies
• Legal Firms
• Accountants
• Schools
• Multi Academy Trusts
• Healthcare Providers
• Charities
• Construction Companies
• Technology Businesses
  

What Will You Receive?

Following testing you'll receive a comprehensive report containing:

Executive Summary

Risk Ratings

Technical Findings

Screenshots and Evidence

Business Impact Assessment

CVSS Severity Scores

Remediation Recommendations

Prioritised Action Plan

Re-testing Guidance

Our reports are written for both technical teams and senior management, ensuring everyone understands the risks and the recommended next steps.

Common Vulnerabilities We Discover

During penetration tests we frequently identify:

Weak passwords

Missing Multi-Factor Authentication

Outdated software

Misconfigured firewalls

Excessive user permissions

Unpatched vulnerabilities

Insecure remote access

Weak Microsoft 365 configurations

Exposed services

Poor network segmentation

Many of these issues can be resolved quickly once identified, significantly reducing your organisation's cyber risk.

Beyond Penetration Testing

Penetration testing provides a snapshot of your security at a specific point in time. To maintain a strong security posture, it should form part of a broader cyber security strategy.

Soltech IT also offers:

Cyber Security Audits

Cyber Essentials Certification

Cyber Essentials Plus Preparation

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Email Security

Vulnerability Scanning

Security Awareness Training

Phishing Simulation

Microsoft 365 Security Reviews

Dark Web Monitoring

Incident Response Services

By combining regular penetration testing with continuous monitoring and proactive threat detection, businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to cyber threats.

Why Choose Soltech IT?

Our penetration testing services are designed to deliver more than just a technical report. We provide clear guidance, practical recommendations and ongoing support to help your organisation strengthen its cyber security.

When you choose Soltech IT, you benefit from:

• Experienced cyber security specialists
• Comprehensive internal and external testing
• Clear, jargon-free reporting
• Actionable remediation advice
• Support implementing recommended improvements
• UK-based expertise
• Flexible testing schedules to minimise disruption

We focus on helping businesses understand their risks, prioritise improvements and build long-term resilience against cyber threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should penetration testing be carried out?

Most organisations should undertake penetration testing at least annually. Additional testing is recommended after significant infrastructure changes, new software deployments or major security incidents.

Will penetration testing disrupt our business?

Our testing is carefully planned to minimise disruption. Where testing could impact critical systems, this is agreed in advance and carried out during suitable maintenance windows.

Is penetration testing the same as vulnerability scanning?

No. Vulnerability scanning is an automated process that identifies known weaknesses. Penetration testing combines automated tools with manual ethical hacking techniques to determine whether vulnerabilities can actually be exploited and what the business impact would be.

Can penetration testing help with compliance?

Yes. Many cyber security frameworks, insurance providers and industry regulations recommend or require regular penetration testing as part of a comprehensive security programme.

Ready to Test Your Security?

Cyber criminals only need to find one weakness to gain access to your systems. Penetration testing helps you find and fix those weaknesses before they are exploited.

Whether you need to meet compliance requirements, prepare for Cyber Essentials Plus, satisfy cyber insurance obligations or simply gain confidence in your cyber security, Soltech IT Ltd can provide professional penetration testing tailored to your organisation.



Contact Soltech IT today to arrange a penetration test and discover how secure your business really is.

Meet the team

Executive Director 

Working within the business and educational sectors for many years, Adam has been instrumental in harnessing the latest technology to innovate and deliver new and effective systems.

Prior to joining Soltech IT in 2011, Adam spent 12 years managing the IT systems and operations of Focus DIY's offices and stores throughout the United Kingdom.