Social engineering has become a top security threat. Safeguard your business with our social engineering assessments that identify the human vulnerabilities within your business by simulating real-world attacks to reveal where employees are most at risk. Gain immediate insights to strengthen security awareness, prevent manipulation, and protect sensitive information before an attacker exploits it.
Social engineering penetration testing
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Social engineering penetration testing with OnSecurity
At OnSecurity, our social engineering assessments go beyond surface-level evaluations, providing expert-driven insights into the susceptibility of your employees to manipulation tactics.
Identify human vulnerabilities
You'll be able to reveal weaknesses in your organisation’s human defences that attackers could exploit, pinpoint employees most at risk of manipulation or deception and uncover gaps in staff awareness that could compromise security.
Mitigate data breach risks
Reduce the chance of attackers accessing sensitive data or systems, prevent unauthorised disclosure of confidential information and protect your organisation from reputational and financial harm.
Strengthen security posture
Gain insights into your organisation's resilience to social engineering attacks, improve processes to minimise exposure to social engineering threats and prepare your team to respond quickly to real-world social engineering attempts.
What is social engineering penetration testing?
Social engineering is a simulated attack designed to test the security awareness of your staff by exploiting human vulnerabilities rather than technical ones. This can be carried out over the phone, email, through your help desk, or via your web chat solution. The goal is to see if attackers could gain access to valid customer accounts or manipulate employees into revealing sensitive information.
Our testers thoroughly assess the potential attack surface for social engineering, conducting detailed research into your business, employees, and customers before launching a simulated attack. This process helps identify weaknesses and provides valuable insights to strengthen your company's defences against real-world social engineering threats.
Get a Social Engineering Pentest Quote
Want to know how much an social engineering pentest would cost? Try out our instant quote generator to get started.
Why do you need a social engineering pentest?
Your staff are the first line of defence against attackers, but it’s becoming increasingly common for attackers to simply call a company and manipulate an employee into granting access to a customer or staff account, or even other critical systems. This technique, known as social engineering, is rapidly growing as a preferred method for cybercriminals.
Just like traditional security assessments, social engineering tests provide a safe way to identify potential weaknesses in your security posture and address them before real attackers can exploit them.
Evaluate your staff's awareness of potential threats and uncover any gaps in your processes that could make your organisation vulnerable to a social engineering attack.
Crest-accredited social engineering pentesting
At OnSecurity, we offer top-tier social engineering penetration testing services, backed by our CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) certification. This certification ensures that our testing methodologies, procedures, and standards adhere to the highest industry standards.
Why choose OnSecurity for your social engineering penetration testing?
- CREST-certified: Our services are externally validated, guaranteeing comprehensive and reliable testing.
- Experienced professionals: Our team is made up of CREST-certified experts skilled in conducting thorough social engineering assessments.
- Manual testing focus: We emphasise manual testing to identify vulnerabilities that automated tools may miss.
Rely on OnSecurity for expert-led, in-depth protection against social engineering threats.
Social engineering security challenges
Addressing social engineering threats involves understanding the unique risks associated with human behaviour and manipulation:
Human vulnerabilities
Employees can be targeted through deception and psychological manipulation, potentially compromising security.
Varied attack methods
Attackers may use diverse techniques, such as phishing, pretexting, or baiting, to exploit human weaknesses.
Ongoing tactics
Social engineering methods continuously evolve, making it essential to stay updated with current threats and employee training.
Quick, high-quality pentests
Discover why our user-friendly platform and consultative approach make pentesting hassle-free.
Instant quote and booking
Get a 60 second cost estimate with our user-friendly instant quote tool.Platform access
No lengthy scoping process. Book your test directly through our platform or connect with our sales team for personalised assistance. Manage all communications via the platform and integrate workflows for notifications.Real-time testing
Get progress notifications through workflow integrations. Communicate directly with testers through in-platform comments.Immediate reports
Access findings in real-time through our platform. Generate PDF reports at any time with options for high-level summaries or detailed technical information. No waiting.Free retests
We retest any findings you’ve fixed without charge within a flexible window of the test completion date.Continued access
Ongoing attack monitoring year round. Sign up to Scan and Radar tools to continuously monitor through automated vulnerability scanning and gain situational awareness with threat intelligence.
Other types of penetration testing
Find the penetration test to best suit your business and cybersecurity needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is penetration testing?
Pentesting, also known as penetration testing, is a critical security practice where a security professional adopts a hacker’s mindset to identify security issues in an organisations IT infrastructure. Penetration testing simulates real-world hacking activities, comprehensively evaluating your digital defences. By engaging in pentesting, businesses can uncover and remediate vulnerabilities before malicious hackers exploit them.
What’s the difference between manual and automated pentesting?
Automated pentesting and vulnerability scanning relies on software tools to quickly assess for known vulnerabilities. Manual pentesting uses experts to identify complex vulnerabilities, tests in real-time and uncovers subtle issues that automated tools might miss. We believe in manual-first testing, and investing in developing talent through a structured and rigorous training programme. That's how we keep the quality of our tests so high.
Do I need a penetration test?
A penetration test is the best way to know for sure if your organisation is an easy target for hackers. The test will show you both how strong your cyber defences are, but what the potential outcomes of a breach could be. It can also ensure compliance with security regulations and enhance customer trust through demonstrated security commitment. Recent research reveals that the average breach now costs $4.35 million, with global cybercrime expenses projected to surge by 23% annually. By 2027, these costs could reach a staggering $23.84 trillion per year. This alarming trend underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. Penetration testing is a vital cyber security solution. As cyber attacks grow more sophisticated and frequent, proactive testing of your defences becomes even more important. Safeguard against potential breaches and avoid devastating financial impacts. Implementing pentesting services is no longer optional – it’s a necessity for many businesses seeking to protect their assets and reputation.
What should I get pentested?
All types of computer systems, networks, applications, and devices that are used to store, process, or transmit sensitive data should be tested. This includes web applications, mobile applications, wireless networks, cloud-based systems, and IoT devices. The scope of the penetration test should be determined by the organisation's risk assessment and compliance requirements. It's important to test all systems and applications that have access to valuable data to ensure that they are secure and protected against potential attacks.
How much does a pen test cost?
The cost of a penetration testing service can vary depending on the scope, duration, and complexity of the project. Generally, factors that can affect the cost of a penetration test include the number of systems to be tested, the depth and breadth of the testing, the type of testing required (e.g., web application, network, mobile), and the level of reporting and follow-up support needed. Our transparent, hourly billing means that everybody pays the same rate, and we quote to the nearest hour, not the nearest day. If you are interested in obtaining a quote for a penetration test, you can get an instant quote from our quote builder.
What's the difference between vulnerability scanning and pentesting?
A vulnerability scan is done using an automated tool to sweep your systems for known vulnerabilities. Penetration testing is a highly skilled, manual process in which a tester finds and attempts to exploit a vulnerability. Find out more about our efficient vulnerability management tool and start your 14 day free trial.
How many scoping questions do you ask? / How do you scope a pentest?
OnSecurity requires just two simple scoping questions to determine the scale of your test. We then use an algorithm to generate you an estimated quote in just a few clicks.
Are your pentests disruptive? Can I continue working while the test is being done?
Our tests are carried out in a safe and controlled manner by experienced testers, so you can continue with work as normal. We tell you about the security issues we find in real-time, so you can fix them before criminals have a chance to exploit them.
Can I speak to my tester directly?
Yes! You can chat directly to your tester in-platform or via Slack during the test.
How can I be sure my test is cost effective?
OnSecurity works in hours, not days, so you get a quote based on the actual time your test will take, without any padding or rounding up to the nearest day. Plus, we report as we go - so no waiting around while a tester spends days writing up a report before you can action any findings.
When will I be notified of findings?
Our testers report in real time as they test, so you can get notified immediately when something is found, instead of having to wait until the test is complete and a report written up.
Do you offer free retesting?
Yes! OnSecurity will retest any findings you've fixed for free, just book them in directly through our platform within 7 days of the test completion date.
How long does a pentest take?
How long a test will take will depend on the size of your target and its function. We ask 2 simple scoping questions to gauge the complexity of your environment which then informs the time we think it will take to test.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule a test?
No problem! We know that things don't always go to plan, so we don't charge you any fees to cancel or reschedule a test.