Cyber Essentials Plus Penetration Testing

Why it matters

A growing share of UK public-sector contracts, and an increasing number of enterprise supplier requirements, specify Cyber Essentials Plus rather than the base, self-assessed certification. Failing the technical verification after declaring compliance on the base scheme is an expensive, visible setback — testing beforehand catches the gap while it is still cheap to fix.

What we test

• External vulnerability testing (firewall & boundary controls)
• Internal vulnerability testing (secure configuration)
• Access control & privilege verification
• Malware protection validation
• Patch & update management verification
• Cyber Essentials test-specification compliance check

Common vulnerabilities we uncover

• Boundary firewall misconfigurations exposed externally
• Default or weak configuration on in-scope devices
• Excessive user privileges beyond least-privilege
• Missing or outdated malware protection on some assets
• Unpatched software beyond the scheme's patching window
• Gaps between your self-assessment answers and technical reality

Our methodology

1. Scoping & rules of engagement. We agree objectives, targets and boundaries for your cyber essentials plus penetration testing, so testing is safe, authorized and focused on what matters to your business.
2. Reconnaissance & mapping. We enumerate the full attack surface in scope, building a complete picture before any exploitation begins.
3. Manual exploitation. Our senior testers chain vulnerabilities by hand — going far beyond automated scanners — to prove real, demonstrable impact.
4. Analysis & reporting. Every finding is triaged, risk-rated with CVSS and written up with a copy-paste reproduction and clear remediation.
5. 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 run the vulnerability testing Cyber Essentials Plus verification actually performs — external and internal vulnerability scanning, patch and configuration checks against the current test specification, and validation of the same five control areas your self-assessment already declared — so nothing in the certifying body's technical review comes as a surprise.

When you need this engagement

• You are pursuing Cyber Essentials Plus for a UK government or enterprise contract
• You already hold base Cyber Essentials and need the Plus technical verification
• A contract or tender specifically requires Cyber Essentials Plus, not the base scheme
• You are renewing certification and want to catch gaps before the assessor does
• You want confidence your self-assessment will hold up under independent testing

What you receive

• Vulnerability testing report against the five control areas
• Test-specification compliance findings
• Gap analysis versus your self-assessment answers
• Prioritised, certification-ready remediation roadmap
• Retest support ahead of your certifying body review
• Plain-English summary for non-technical stakeholders

What’s included in your report

Every cyber essentials plus 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

Outcomes you can expect

After your cyber essentials plus 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 cyber essentials plus 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

Our cyber essentials plus 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

Cyber Essentials Plus Penetration Testing is frequently scoped alongside our other offensive-security services for broader coverage. Explore related engagements that complement it:

• ISO 27001 Penetration Testing (Annex A.8.29) — ISO 27001 penetration testing mapped to Annex A.8.29 — the evidence certification auditors expect for security…
• Internal Network Penetration Testing — Internal network penetration testing — lateral movement, privilege escalation and segmentation review from an assumed-breach position…
• External Network Penetration Testing — External network penetration testing of your internet-facing perimeter — exposed services, misconfigurations and exploitable hosts, tested…

How much does Cyber Essentials Plus Penetration Testing cost?

Every cyber essentials plus penetration testing is scoped and priced individually, so you pay for exactly the coverage you need — with no hidden extras. After a short, no-obligation scoping call we send a fixed-price quote, usually within one business day, with clear deliverables, a firm timeline and a complimentary retest included. The price of your cyber essentials plus penetration testing depends on the size and complexity of the target and the depth of testing required, so you always know the cost up front before any work begins.

Get a fixed-price quote

Frequently asked questions