NERC CIP (Critical Infrastructure Protection) standards are mandatory and enforceable for owners and operators of the North American bulk electric system, with real financial penalties for non-compliance. CIP-005 (Electronic Security Perimeters) and CIP-010 (Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability Assessments) both point directly at the kind of testing utilities need evidenced ahead of an audit.
We test the systems inside your Electronic Security Perimeter and structure findings against the specific CIP standard they relate to.
We scope testing to the systems inside your Electronic Security Perimeter under CIP-005, run the vulnerability assessment CIP-010 requires around baseline configuration changes, and prepare evidence structured for your Regional Entity audit rather than a generic penetration test report.
Why it matters
NERC CIP violations carry real financial penalties, and auditors specifically look for documented, independent testing tied to your Electronic Security Perimeter and change-management process — not just an internal vulnerability scan. Utilities that treat CIP testing as an annual formality are the ones that get caught out when the audit asks for evidence tied to a specific standard.
What we test
- Electronic Security Perimeter penetration testing (CIP-005)
- Vulnerability assessment for baseline configuration changes (CIP-010)
- Access control & authentication testing
- Interactive Remote Access security testing
- BES Cyber System boundary validation
- Audit-ready evidence pack (CIP-mapped)
Common vulnerabilities we uncover
- Electronic Security Perimeter gaps not independently tested
- Baseline configuration changes deployed without required vulnerability assessment
- Weak Interactive Remote Access controls
- Findings not mapped to a specific CIP standard or requirement
- No documented evidence for the next Regional Entity audit
- BES Cyber System boundaries that do not match documented scope
Our methodology
- Scoping & rules of engagement. We agree objectives, targets and boundaries for your nerc cip 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 test the Electronic Security Perimeter boundary and connected systems under CIP-005, and run vulnerability assessments aligned to CIP-010's configuration change management requirements, mapping every finding to the specific CIP standard and requirement number it evidences, in the format your Regional Entity auditor expects.
When you need this engagement
- You are an owner or operator of the North American bulk electric system
- You are preparing for a Regional Entity CIP audit
- A prior audit flagged missing or inadequate testing evidence
- You have made baseline configuration changes requiring CIP-010 vulnerability assessment
- You need Electronic Security Perimeter testing evidence for CIP-005
What you receive
- Electronic Security Perimeter penetration test report
- CIP-010 vulnerability assessment documentation
- Findings mapped to specific CIP standards and requirements
- Audit-ready evidence pack
- Prioritised remediation roadmap
- Free retest after remediation
What’s included in your report
Every nerc cip 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
NERC CIP-005
NERC CIP-010
NERC CIP standards (full suite as applicable)
Outcomes you can expect
After your nerc cip 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 nerc cip 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 nerc cip 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
NERC CIP Penetration Testing is frequently scoped alongside our other offensive-security services for broader coverage. Explore related engagements that complement it:
How much does NERC CIP Penetration Testing cost?
Every nerc cip 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 nerc cip 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
Does NERC CIP require penetration testing?
CIP-005 and CIP-010 both point directly at technical testing — Electronic Security Perimeter validation and vulnerability assessment tied to configuration changes — that in practice is evidenced through penetration testing and vulnerability assessment, reported against the specific standard.
What is an Electronic Security Perimeter?
The defined boundary around your BES Cyber Systems that CIP-005 requires you to control and monitor access to — testing validates that boundary actually holds against a real attacker, not just on paper.
When does CIP-010 vulnerability assessment apply?
Whenever you make a baseline configuration change to an in-scope BES Cyber System, CIP-010 requires a vulnerability assessment either before or within a defined window after the change.
Will this evidence hold up in a Regional Entity audit?
We structure every report and finding against the specific CIP standard and requirement it relates to, which is exactly what auditors ask to see traced clearly, not buried in a generic report.