Connected devices blend hardware, firmware, wireless protocols and cloud backends — and a weakness in any layer compromises the whole product. Our IoT penetration testing assesses the complete ecosystem the way a determined attacker with the device in hand would.
We extract and analyze firmware, probe hardware debug interfaces, attack wireless protocols and test the companion app and cloud API together.
Our IoT and embedded device penetration testing assesses the complete product ecosystem: extracted firmware, hardware debug interfaces such as UART and JTAG, wireless protocols like BLE and Zigbee, and the companion mobile app and cloud API. Aligned to the OWASP IoT Top 10 and Firmware Security Testing Methodology, we find hardcoded secrets, insecure update mechanisms and missing secure boot — the layered weaknesses that turn one device in an attacker's hands into a fleet-wide compromise.
Why it matters
Connected devices combine hardware, firmware, wireless protocols and cloud backends, and a weakness in any one layer can compromise the entire product and every unit in the field. Physical access to a single device often unlocks the whole fleet.
IoT penetration testing assesses the complete ecosystem the way an attacker with a device in hand would, from extracted firmware to the cloud API, before a flaw becomes a costly recall or breach.
What we test
- Firmware extraction & analysis
- Hardware interfaces (UART/JTAG/SPI)
- Wireless protocol attacks (BLE/Zigbee)
- Companion app & cloud API testing
- Secure boot & update mechanism review
- Hardcoded secrets & credential exposure
Common vulnerabilities we uncover
- Hardcoded secrets and firmware credentials
- Exposed hardware debug interfaces (UART/JTAG)
- Insecure firmware update mechanisms
- Weak wireless protocol implementations (BLE/Zigbee)
- Insecure companion app and cloud API
- Missing secure boot and anti-tamper
Our IoT Device Penetration Testing methodology
- Scoping & rules of engagement. We agree objectives, targets and boundaries for your iot device penetration testing, so testing is safe, authorized and focused on what matters to your business.
- Reconnaissance & mapping. We enumerate the full attack surface in scope, building a complete picture before any exploitation begins.
- Manual exploitation. Our senior testers chain vulnerabilities by hand — going far beyond automated scanners — to prove real, demonstrable impact.
- Analysis & reporting. Every finding is triaged, risk-rated with CVSS and written up with a copy-paste reproduction and clear remediation.
- Remediation support & free retest. We support your team through the fixes and retest the remediated issues to confirm they are genuinely closed.
Tools & techniques
We use hardware analysis tools to access UART, JTAG and SPI interfaces, firmware-extraction and analysis tooling, and BLE/Zigbee sniffing equipment, alongside companion-app and cloud-API testing. We extract and reverse-engineer firmware, hunt for hardcoded secrets, assess secure boot and update mechanisms, and attack the wireless and cloud layers. Testing follows the OWASP IoT Top 10 and Firmware Security Testing Methodology.
When you need IoT Device Penetration Testing
- Before shipping a connected product to market
- For medical, industrial or consumer IoT with safety implications
- When firmware, hardware and cloud must be tested together
- To meet ETSI EN 303 645 or regulatory security requirements
What you receive
- Device ecosystem threat model
- Layered findings with evidence
- Firmware & hardware hardening guidance
- Free retest of remediated firmware
What’s included in your report
Every iot device penetration testing engagement concludes with a comprehensive, board-ready report and a working session to walk your team through it. Your report includes:
- An executive summary with overall risk posture for non-technical stakeholders
- Detailed technical findings, each with a step-by-step, copy-paste reproduction
- CVSS v3.1 severity ratings and business-impact context for every issue
- Prioritized, actionable remediation guidance your engineers can apply directly
- A complimentary retest to confirm fixes and update finding status
- A formal attestation letter for customers, auditors and compliance programs
Standards & frameworks
OWASP IoT Top 10
OWASP FSTM
ETSI EN 303 645
NIST IR 8259
Outcomes you can expect
After your iot device penetration testing, you will have clear, evidence-based visibility into your real security risk — not a scanner’s guesswork. You will know exactly which weaknesses an attacker could exploit, what the business impact would be, and the precise steps to fix them in priority order. Teams use our findings to close critical gaps, satisfy customer and regulator security requirements, and demonstrate due diligence to their board. With a complimentary retest included, you also get documented proof that the issues are genuinely resolved.
Engagement details & logistics
Every iot device penetration testing starts with a short, no-obligation scoping call to understand your goals, environment and constraints, followed by a fixed-price proposal and a clear statement of work. Most engagements are delivered fully remotely, with on-site work arranged where it genuinely adds value. Throughout testing we maintain an agreed communication cadence and escalate any critical, high-impact finding to you immediately rather than waiting for the final report. All work is performed under a signed NDA with strict data-handling controls, using safe, non-disruptive techniques and carefully coordinated rules of engagement to protect your production systems. On completion you receive your report and a walkthrough session, followed by a complimentary retest once your fixes are in place. Typical engagements are booked one to three weeks in advance, and urgent or pre-deadline testing can often be accommodated — just ask at hi@agentoffense.com.
Why organizations choose AgentOffense for IoT Device Penetration Testing
Our iot device penetration testing is delivered by senior offensive-security engineers who test the way real attackers do — manually, creatively and with a relentless focus on proving genuine, demonstrable impact. Here is what sets our engagements apart:
- Manual, exploit-driven testing that chains vulnerabilities the way a real attacker would, going far beyond what automated scanners can find.
- Reproducible proof for every finding, with copy-paste reproduction steps your engineers can follow and independently verify.
- Honest severity calibration so you invest in fixing what genuinely matters and avoid wasting effort on false positives and noise.
- Clear, business-focused reporting that speaks to engineers and executives alike, tying every issue to real-world impact.
- A complimentary retest included, so you get documented proof that your fixes actually close the attack path.
- Responsible, collaborative delivery with a named point of contact and secure handling of all data throughout the engagement.
Explore related services
IoT Device Penetration Testing is frequently scoped alongside our other offensive-security services for broader coverage. Explore related engagements that complement it:
- Wireless Network Penetration Testing — Wireless penetration testing — WPA2/WPA3 attacks, rogue access points, client isolation and guest/corporate segmentation testing across…
- Secure Code Review — Manual secure code review backed by SAST — data-flow and taint analysis, secrets detection and insecure-pattern…
- Mobile Application Penetration Testing — iOS and Android mobile application penetration testing — static and dynamic analysis, runtime instrumentation, secret extraction…
Frequently asked questions
Do you need physical devices to test?
Yes, we need at least one or two representative units to perform hardware and firmware analysis.
Can you test the device's cloud backend too?
Absolutely — the cloud API and companion app are where much of the real risk lives, and we test them as part of the ecosystem.
Do you follow an IoT testing standard?
We align with the OWASP IoT Top 10 and Firmware Security Testing Methodology (FSTM).
Do you need physical devices to test?
Yes — we need at least one or two representative units to perform hardware and firmware analysis.
Do you test the device's cloud backend too?
Yes. The cloud API and companion app hold much of the real risk, and we test them as part of the ecosystem.
How many device units do you need?
Typically one or two representative units are enough for hardware and firmware analysis.
Do you test the cloud backend and mobile app too?
Yes. The companion app and cloud API hold much of the real risk and are tested as part of the ecosystem.
How long does IoT device testing take?
Typically two to four weeks given the depth of hardware, firmware, wireless and cloud analysis involved.
Do you provide firmware and hardware hardening guidance?
Yes. Findings include specific firmware, hardware and cloud hardening recommendations, with a retest of remediated firmware.